As of mid-January, North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have reportedly sustained casualties exceeding one-third of their total deployment in the Kursk region. British military intelligence estimates that approximately 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been lost, with around 1,000 killed in action.
The total losses represent over 33% of the approximately 11,000 North Korean troops stationed in Kursk. This high casualty rate in a short timeframe is likely to have significantly undermined the North Korean military's capability to conduct offensive operations in support of Russia's efforts to displace Ukrainian forces from the area.
Despite these significant losses, the North Korean units have achieved only 'tactical successes' in Kursk. The report highlights operational compatibility challenges between Russian and North Korean forces, citing language barriers and difficulties in integrating into the Russian command structure.
Similar assessments of North Korean military losses have been echoed by Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, who mentioned comparable figures at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Andriy Kovalенко, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, noted that despite the numerical advantage of North Korean and Russian forces, Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting tactical counteroffensive operations, managing to push the enemy back in certain positions.
He further stated that due to terrain challenges and losses in equipment and personnel, the advance of Russian and North Korean troops has been hindered, disrupting their initial plans.