As of March 2025, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) forces had highly likely sustained over 5,000 casualties in offensive combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Kursk region, with approximately a third of the casualties killed in action, according to the UK Defense Intelligence.
The total casualties amount to close to half of the approximately 11,000 DPRK troops initially deployed to Kursk region. Open source reports suggest the DPRK has subsequently deployed limited numbers of additional troops to Kursk in support. Significant DPRK casualty rates have almost certainly been sustained primarily through large, highly attritional dismounted assaults.
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North Korean forces and russian forces have made territorial gains in recent weeks in offensive operations against Ukrainian forces in Kursk. Ukrainian forces likely retain at least a foothold in the russian territory of Kursk.
North Korean operations have thus far been confined to Kursk region. Any decision to deploy into internationally recognized, sovereign Ukrainian territory in support of russian forces, would almost certainly require sign-off from both russia's President Vladimir Putin, and the DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.
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