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... Newsweek has contacted the defense ministries of Russia and Ukraine, as well as the Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations, via email, for comment.
N.Korean soldiers

Why It Matters

North Korea sent between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to fight for Russia in its war with Ukraine in October 2024.

There were fears about how the involvement of another country in the conflict could stoke geopolitical tensions. Officials in Seoul and Washington were concerned that Moscow could provide Pyongyang with advanced weapons technology that could enhance its nuclear capabilities in exchange for the help given in the fight against Ukraine.

What To Know

North Korean troops have not been seen on the front lines for around two weeks, according to Ukrainian and U.S. officials who spoke to the NYT on condition of anonymity.

They were reportedly pulled from the front after suffering heavy casualties, with many used in "human wave" attacks, or left to fend for themselves without sufficient armored vehicles, Ukrainian officials and troops have said.

Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) told the Kyiv Independent that North Korean troops have not been seen in Kursk for around three weeks. ...