North Korean soldiers sent to support Russian troops trying to push back the Ukrainian offensive on Russian territory have not been seen on the front line for about two weeks, writes The New York Times citing American and Ukrainian officials.
The Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also confirmed that there has been no presence of North Korean troops in the Kursk region of Russia for about three weeks. “The Special Operations Forces report that the presence of DPRK troops has not been noted for approximately three weeks, likely having suffered heavy losses, they were forced to retreat,” Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, spokesperson for the Special Operations Forces, told “Ukrainska Pravda.”
The arrival of about 11,000 North Korean military personnel in Russia in November caused concern in Ukraine and among its Western allies, who feared that their deployment signaled a significant escalation of the nearly three-year war. But in just three months, the number of North Korean troops halved, according to the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Ukrainian troops fighting against the North Koreans describe them as fierce warriors. But disorganization in their ranks and lack of coordination with Russian units quickly led to increased losses, a Ukrainian official told NYT. Since arriving on the battlefield, North Korean soldiers have been left to their own devices, advancing with little armored support and rarely stopping to regroup or retreat.
Moreover, despite the fact that North Korean units were well-trained, it seems they were used as infantrymen, sent in waves across fields strewn with mines.
Meanwhile, American officials stated that the decision to withdraw North Korean troops from the front line may not be permanent. They said it is possible that the North Koreans could return after additional training or after Russia devises new ways to deploy them to avoid such heavy losses.
According to Western and Ukrainian intelligence, North Korea is also supplying Russia with millions of artillery shells, which today make up about half of the ammunition fired daily by Russia, as well as missiles and shells. Russia supplies North Korea with oil, food, and some types of weapons.
Photo: KCNA / Reuters