Around 2,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine have been killed, according to estimates from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
The figures were disclosed during a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, Ukrinform reports, citing Yonhap.
“North Korea revealed it sustained around 350 deaths in the first and second rounds of deployment, while the NIS reported at least 600 deaths in a briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee in April,” lawmaker Lee Sung-kwon told reporters, noting that the NIS has increased its estimate of the death toll to 2,000 after a “comprehensive review” with other countries.
The NIS also said Pyongyang is planning to additionally send some 6,000 soldiers to Russia, while about 1,000 combat engineers have already arrived. Current forces are being stationed in the rear as reserve units.
Since October last year, North Korea has deployed around 13,000 troops and conventional weapons to support Russia’s war efforts.
As reported earlier, in August, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate, stated that North Korea is preparing to additionally send 6,000 troops to Russia, along with 50 to 100 pieces of military equipment — including M2010 (Cheonma-D) main battle tanks and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers — reportedly to be used for engineering tasks.
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