russia is concealing the presence of North Korean troops involved in combat operations in Kursk region, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports. This secrecy aims to mask the personnel shortages plaguing the russian army amid its ongoing war with Ukraine.
According to ISW, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed on December 16 that North Korean soldiers have been killed during combat in Kursk region. Despite this, Moscow has refrained from publicly acknowledging their involvement, likely to avoid political backlash and maintain a facade of self-sufficiency within its military.
Read more: North Korean Troops in Kursk: New Tactics Emerge Amid Losses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also highlighted efforts by russian authorities to obscure the presence of North Korean forces. He revealed that these troops are forbidden to show their faces during training in russia and are being disguised as members of the Buryat ethnic group to mislead observers.
“The Kremlin will likely continue to avoid reporting on the deployment of North Korean forces in Kursk region as doing so would tacitly acknowledge that russia needs foreign troops to recapture its own territory and invalidate russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims that the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk region resulted in high russian recruitment rates,” reads the report.
Read more: North Korean Soldiers Likely Unaware of Drone Threats on the Frontline
