North Korean troops withdraw from Ukraine frontline after heavy losses, Seoul says

North Korean troops deployed to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine have been withdrawn from the frontline after suffering heavy casualties, South Korea’s intelligence agency reported this week.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed the withdrawal of North Korean forces from the Kursk region in mid-January, where approximately 11,000 troops had been stationed since late 2024.

According to Seoul’s intelligence officials, about 300 North Korean soldiers were killed and 2,700 wounded during their deployment, representing a casualty rate that could reach 50% of the total force.

The deployment followed a mutual defence agreement between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at countering what both leaders described as US-led “western hegemony”.

Intelligence sources said the North Korean troops, who lacked prior combat experience, struggled with unfamiliar terrain and proved particularly vulnerable to Ukrainian drone attacks. South Korean officials also reported finding documents suggesting troops were instructed to commit suicide rather than face capture.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously shared footage of two captured North Korean soldiers, with one claiming he had been told the deployment was for a “training exercise”.

Seth Jones, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, described the casualty figures as “staggering” for a force of about 11,000 troops.

“The casualty rates were significant,” Jones said, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. “By most accounts… somewhere between a third and probably on the real high end, maybe 50% casualties among the North Korean forces.”

Pyongyang has not publicly acknowledged its military involvement in Ukraine, though Moscow has not denied the presence of North Korean troops. North Korean Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu maintained that any such deployment would comply with international law.

The intelligence service cited the high casualty rate as a key factor in the withdrawal decision, which came after Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive in the Kursk region in August 2024.

Analysts say North Korea’s military support for Russia was expected to be exchanged for advanced satellite technology and foreign currency to support its nuclear and missile programmes.