UKRAINE, Feb. 13 — North Korea has 6,000 troops that were killed or wounded in Russia’s war against Ukraine, South Korea’s intelligence told Yonhap, South Korea’s news agency on Feb. 12.

Since November 2024, North Korea has sent  troops to Russia to assist Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine. Mostly, North Korean soldiers were involved in the Kursk counteroffensive, where Ukraine held nearly 600 — 800 km² (231— 308mi²) in 2024. 

Currently, nearly 10,000 troops and 1,000 engineer troops from North Korea are deployed in the Kursk region.

Approximately 1,100 soldiers who returned to North Korea from the frontline in December 2025 may be redeployed to Russia to participate in the war, according to the report. 

“Despite suffering 6,000 casualties, the North Korean military has achieved the results of acquiring modern combat tactics and data in the battlefield, as well as upgrading its weapons systems with technical assistance from Russia,” the South Korean intelligence said.

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