Over 3,000 North Korean troops killed or injured in Russia, Zelensky claims

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a meeting in Ukraine, in this undated photo. Reuters-Yonhap

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Monday that more than 3,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russia have been killed or injured in combat with Ukrainian forces.

"The number of North Korean soldiers killed and wounded in the Kursk region has already exceeded 3,000," he said citing preliminary data.

Zelensky took to social media to make the claim, while expressing concerns that Pyongyang is also threatening to send additional troops and military equipment to aid Moscow.

"There are risks of North Korea sending additional soldiers and military equipment to the Russian army, and we will have tangible responses to this," he said, warning that the deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang would increase security risks on the Korean Peninsula.

Zelensky's assessment of the North Korean casualties is significantly higher than previous estimates by South Korean military authorities.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff on the same day, around 1,100 North Korean troops deployed to Russia have been killed or injured, with Pyongyang appearing to be preparing additional deployments or troop rotations.

Fighting in the Kursk region in western Russia has been fierce since August, when Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive, temporarily capturing parts of the Russian border territory. Moscow has since mounted counteroffensives to reclaim the area, resulting in heavy clashes.

Meanwhile, Russia announced that North Korean troops might participate in next year's Victory Day celebrations in Russia. The annual event, held every May 9, commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.