According to South Korean intelligence estimates, about 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died in the war in Ukraine, reported the Yonhap agency.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared this estimate during a closed briefing in the parliamentary intelligence committee, and deputies reported the data to journalists.
As noted by the NIS, Pyongyang plans to additionally send about 6,000 soldiers to Russia as part of the third troop deployment to assist Moscow in the war with Ukraine, about 1,000 military engineers have already arrived in Russia. North Korean troops are stationed on the "rear front as reserve forces," the agency reported.
Since October last year, North Korea has sent about 13,000 soldiers and weaponry to support Russia's military actions.
As reported by Reuters in April, from 50 to 100 percent of the shells fired by Russian artillery at Ukrainian units were supplied by North Korea. The analysis of maritime and land supplies was confirmed by reports from Russian artillery, intercepted by Kyiv, satellite images, and verified videos on social media, as well as three high-ranking Ukrainian government and military sources.
From September 2023 to March 17, 2025, Russian cargo ships transported military cargo from the port of Rajin in North Korea to the Russian ports of Danube and Vostochny 64 times. In total, there were at least 15,809 containers, according to satellite images. Also, cargo from North Korea was transported via the "Friendship Bridge" railway over the Tumen River to Primorye.
Photo: Yonhap