Overview

• Ukraine and South Korean intelligence report significant casualties among North Korean troops deployed to support Russian forces, with over 100 killed and 1,000 injured in recent fighting near Kursk.
• North Korean soldiers, reportedly lacking experience in drone warfare and open terrain combat, are described by Russian officers as a burden on the battlefield.
• Ukraine claims to have inflicted heavy losses on North Korean units using drones and special operations, with some units suffering dozens of casualties in a single engagement.
• Pyongyang has not confirmed the presence of its troops, but analysts suggest North Korea's alliance with Russia includes troop deployments and arms shipments in exchange for potential military modernization support.
• The deployment of North Korean forces has drawn international criticism, with the U.S. and allies warning of an escalating conflict and urging North Korea to withdraw its troops.