Over 4,700 North Korean Soldiers Killed Or Wounded in Russia, Says South Korean Intelligence

On April 30, 2025, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) disclosed that North Korean forces stationed in Russia to assist in the war against Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have sustained over 4,700 casualties. Among these, more than 600 have been confirmed dead. 

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Yonhap News.

The report of NIS indicates that approximately 15,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Russia, with two waves of reinforcements – 12,000 last year and 3,000 in the early part of this year. The bulk of their involvement has been in combat operations in the Kursk region.

South Korean intelligence further reported a significant reduction in combat activity in Kursk since April. 

While the NIS has not observed any signs of a new deployment of North Korean forces to the Russia-Ukraine front, it does not rule out the possibility of further troop movements. The intelligence agency further revealed that in exchange for sending troops and exporting weapons to Russia, North Korea has received substantial military assistance, including the construction of a launch pad for a reconnaissance satellite, drones, electronic warfare systems, and SA-22 surface-to-air missiles.

Additionally, Pyongyang and Moscow are in negotiations for North Korea to modernize 14 key industrial sectors, including aviation, energy, and tourism, with plans to send around 15,000 North Korean workers to Russia.

South Korea believes that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not attend Russia’s May 9th Victory Day parade, as there are no noticeable preparations for his security measures. Instead, a delegation led by a lower-ranking government official is expected to represent North Korea at the event.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has called on the international community to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and North Korea after the recognition of the direct involvement of DPRK troops in the war against Ukraine.