North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces against the Ukrainian army have been pulled from the front lines after suffering significant losses, Ukrainian and American officials say, The New York Times reports, quoted by News.bg.
The deployment of about 11,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia in November has raised concerns in Ukraine and among its Western allies, who saw it as a sign of an escalation of the conflict. However, according to Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrsky, the number of North Korean forces has been halved in just three months.
Ukrainian soldiers describe the North Koreans as fierce fighters, but their lack of organization and coordination with Russian units has left them vulnerable. They were left to fend for themselves, advancing with limited armour and no means of effective retreat or regrouping.
Strategic upheavals and international reactions
Ukraine's military leadership has come under criticism for its offensive in Russia's Kursk region, which some see as a waste of resources. President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has insisted on holding the territory to strengthen Ukraine's position in future peace talks.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stepped in to offer Vladimir Putin troops to support Russian forces in Kursk. According to US intelligence, Moscow accepted the offer, but North Korean soldiers were used as front-line infantrymen, resulting in heavy casualties.
US officials have not ruled out the possibility that North Korean troops could return to the battlefield after additional training or better coordination with Russian forces.
The Russian-North Korean alliance - mutual interests
Kim Jong-un expects support from Putin in return for military aid. North Korea has already supplied millions of artillery shells to Russia, which form about half of its daily shelling of Ukraine. In return, Moscow provides oil, food and modernized weapons to Pyongyang.
Last summer, Putin and Kim restored a treaty on mutual defense and military cooperation signed during the Cold War. This further strengthened ties between Russia and North Korea, creating new geopolitical challenges for the West.