Over 5,000 Casualties for North Korean Forces in Kursk, Says UK Defense Intelligence

North Korean forces have sustained heavy casualties in support of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, with over 5,000 troops reported killed or injured in the Kursk region, according to UK Defense Intelligence on March 28.

The losses represent nearly half of the alleged 11,000 DPRK troops initially deployed, with casualties primarily resulting from large, attritional ground assaults.

As of April 2025, North Korean forces are believed to have suffered over 5,000 casualties during offensive operations against Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, according to UK Defense Intelligence. One-third of these casualties were killed in action, with the total losses amounting to nearly half of the 11,000 North Korean troops initially deployed to the area.

Open-source reports suggest that the DPRK has since sent a limited number of additional troops to reinforce its position in Kursk.

The high casualty rates have likely been driven by large-scale, attritional dismounted assaults. The UK Defense Intelligence assessment raises questions about North Korea’s ability to sustain its military presence in the region under such conditions.

Meanwhile, Russia is considering the inclusion of North Korea and other non-Western nations in potential peace talks on Ukraine, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with sailors aboard the nuclear submarine Arkhangelsk on March 28.

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