'North Korea proposed troop deployment to Russia,' U.S. officials believe

A Russian serviceman fires a missile at an undisclosed location, in this grab from a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Dec. 23, 2024. AP-Yonhap

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - North Korea initially proposed deploying its troops to Russia to assist Moscow's war in Ukraine, The New York Times reported on Monday, citing U.S. intelligence agencies.

The deployment was "North Korea's idea and not Russia's," although Russian President Vladimir Putin "quickly embraced it," the daily wrote.

Over 10,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been sent to Russia since last fall, with most of them deployed in Kursk, a Russian territory currently occupied by Ukraine.

They appear to have engaged directly in combat, with some casualties. The daily reported that "as many as 200 North Koreans had been killed and slightly more wounded," citing Ukrainian officials, who also alleged that Russia has been "trying to conceal those losses."

The daily also shared analysis by U.S. officials, who assess that the North Korean regime has not received "anything immediate in return. Instead, .....[its leader Kim Jong-un] appears to be hoping that Russia will repay the favor in the future by offering support in diplomatic fights, assisting if a crisis breaks out, and providing technology."

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether the prolonged war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, will come to an end, as incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to pressure both Ukraine and Russia toward a peace deal once he takes office next month.