North Korea has lost approximately 600 soldiers while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service, marking the first detailed casualty estimate since Pyongyang confirmed its involvement in the war. South Korean lawmakers briefed by the agency said total North Korean casualties, including the wounded, number around 4,700.
The estimate comes days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly acknowledged for the first time that his troops were operating in Ukraine. On April 28, Kim praised the soldiers as heroes, declaring they had fought "for justice" and were "representatives of the honor of the motherland," according to state news agency KCNA. That same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for its support, stating, "The Russian people will never forget the feat of the North Korean special forces fighters."
South Korean intelligence officials said the remains of North Korean soldiers killed in action were cremated in Russia-primarily in the Kursk region-and repatriated by air and rail between January and March. Lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun, who attended the closed-door briefing, said the troop deployment had reached approximately 15,000 personnel.
North Korea's participation is part of a broader defense pact signed last year between Pyongyang and Moscow. Under the agreement, North Korea reportedly agreed to supply troops and weapons in exchange for Russian assistance with satellite and missile technology, including drones and anti-air systems.
Combat performance by the deployed troops appears to be evolving. Lee said North Korean forces had grown "less inept" after six months of operations and were adapting to modern battlefield technologies. "its combat capability has significantly improved as it becomes accustomed to using new weapons such as drones," he told reporters.
The North Korean Central Military Commission stated on Monday that its forces had worked with Russia to "liberate" the Kursk region from Ukrainian control. The Commission characterized Ukrainian troops as "neo-Nazi occupiers" and claimed the DPRK made "an important contribution" to Russia's military advances.
Putin's endorsement of the North Korean deployment was echoed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who said Moscow could provide military aid to Pyongyang if requested under the terms of the mutual defense pact. This growing alliance between two U.S. adversaries has drawn condemnation from Washington and its allies, with officials warning that such cooperation could further destabilize the region and prolong the war.
In response to Pyongyang's actions, South Korea has said it is reviewing potential support for Ukraine. The Korea Institute for Defense Analyses estimated earlier this month that North Korea may have already reaped more than $20 billion from its military assistance to Russia, primarily through arms exports.
Meanwhile, approximately 15,000 North Korean civilian laborers are also believed to be working inside Russia, according to South Korean intelligence assessments, potentially providing another stream of revenue for the isolated regime.
