US intelligence has reports of North Korean soldiers taking their own lives to avoid capture by Ukrainian forces. THE North Korea reportedly sent between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to Russia.
Around a thousand North Korean soldiers were killed or injured last week in fighting against Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk, according to estimates released this Friday by the US.
Council spokesperson of White House National Security Officer John Kirby said North Korean soldiers supporting Russia are launching major attacks against Ukrainian forces, but they are less effective than anticipated.
“Our estimate is that, so far, they have suffered more than 1,000 deaths or injuries in this combat in the last week alone,” the spokesperson added, clarifying that Russian military leaders are “treating these troops as expendable and ordering to conduct futile attacks on Ukrainian defenses.”
“These North Korean soldiers appear to be highly indoctrinated, carrying out attacks even when it is clear they are futile,” the White House official explained.
U.S. intelligence also has reports of North Korean soldiers taking their own lives to avoid capture by Ukrainian forces, likely “out of fear of retaliation against their families in North Korea,” Kirby said.
According to Kiev, North Korea had sent between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers to Russia to help with the
Information about the course of the war released by both sides cannot immediately be independently verified.
Ukrainian forces, who have been facing a Russian invasion since February 2022, counterattacked last August and invaded the Russian region of Kursk, close to the border, still maintaining control over part of the region.
O The spokesperson also explained that in the coming days the United States will approve a new weapons package for Ukraine.
