North Korea maintains strict secrecy surrounding its troops’ casualties in Russia, with families receiving minimal information and the public remaining unaware. The government treats fallen soldiers as expendable, prioritizing regime security over individual lives. This secrecy extends to the troops’ deployment itself, enforced through censorship and the threat of punishment under the 2023 State Secrets Protection Law. Meanwhile, the elite Storm Corps, known for rigorous training simulating South Korean infiltration, continues its operations, fueling concerns of potential future aggression.
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RBC Ukraine, citing Global Defense Corp., reported that a Ukrainian Storm Shadow missile strike in Russia’s Kursk region resulted in the deaths of approximately 500 North Korean soldiers. This follows reports from South Korean and U.S. officials indicating the deployment of over 10,000 North Korean troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. The reported casualties highlight the potential escalation of the conflict and the involvement of previously unconfirmed foreign combatants. The accuracy of the reported death toll remains unverified.
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Growing cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including the reported deployment of North Korean troops to Ukraine, is causing unease in China. While China has remained publicly silent, US officials suggest this silence stems from concern that the deepening relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow could negatively impact China’s interests, potentially emboldening North Korea and strengthening US alliances in the region. However, some analysts dispute the extent of China’s discomfort, arguing that China’s support for Russia implicitly endorses North Korea’s actions. Ultimately, China’s position appears to be one of uneasy observation rather than outright opposition.
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A Ukrainian strike using UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles on November 20th reportedly killed approximately 500 North Korean troops and a Russian general, Lt-Gen Valery Solodchuk, at a Russian command post and military facility. The attack also allegedly resulted in the deaths of 18 other Russian officers and wounded 18 more. These casualties remain unconfirmed by Russian authorities, who have responded with threats of retaliatory strikes against the UK and US, including the potential use of new long-range ballistic missiles. The involvement of North Korean troops highlights the expanding scope of the conflict.
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Kim Jong Un blamed the U.S. for escalating global tensions, warning of a potential “most destructive thermonuclear war” and asserting that past negotiations only revealed America’s hostile policy. This statement follows North Korea’s deployment of over 10,000 troops to Russia’s war in Ukraine, a move condemned by a joint statement from the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. has accused North Korea of unlawful missile launches and deepening military cooperation with Russia. Despite previous engagement under the Trump administration, relations between the U.S. and North Korea remain strained under the Biden presidency.
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Congressman McCaul asserted that Russia’s escalation in Ukraine, despite President-elect Trump’s warnings, necessitates a stronger US response. He lauded the provision of ATACMS to Ukraine, arguing it bolsters their negotiating position while also aiding the fight against Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk. McCaul criticized the Biden administration’s slow delivery of aid and warned of a looming “unholy alliance” between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, emphasizing the need for strong US support to prevent further aggression and a potential conflict involving Taiwan. He stressed the moral imperative for the US to aid Ukraine, highlighting the severe global consequences of a Russian victory.
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A Ukrainian air strike in the Kursk region injured a senior North Korean general fighting alongside Russian forces. This marks the first confirmed injury of a high-ranking North Korean military officer since their deployment. The incident follows reports of at least 10,000 North Korean troops in the region supporting Russian forces and prompted international condemnation. The involvement of North Korean troops is considered a significant escalation, contributing to recent decisions by the US and its allies to provide Ukraine with longer-range weaponry.
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Satellite imagery analysis by the Open Source Centre reveals that Russia has provided North Korea with over one million barrels of oil since March 2024, violating UN sanctions. This oil is believed to be compensation for weapons and troops North Korea has supplied to Russia for its war in Ukraine. These transfers, documented across 43 tanker voyages, represent a significant breach of international agreements and demonstrate a deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang. Experts warn that this oil-for-arms exchange destabilizes regional security and shows disregard for international sanctions.
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Reports alleging the sexual assault of a Russian teacher by North Korean soldiers near the Ukraine conflict zone have been refuted by both the Kursk regional office of Russia’s Internal Affairs Ministry and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. The ministry called the reports “false information,” while the university stated that no faculty members were in the area and the alleged victim’s description didn’t match any of their staff. These denials follow reports and video circulating on social media. Despite these denials, separate reports indicate that thousands of North Korean soldiers may be deployed in the region.
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Addressing the European Parliament on the 1000th day of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a potential deployment of up to 100,000 North Korean troops to aid Russia. This alarming figure, corroborated by Ukraine’s ambassador to South Korea, suggests a significant escalation of the conflict. Reports also indicate that North Korea has supplied Russia with additional long-range artillery systems. The deployment of North Korean troops, coupled with Russia’s recent nuclear doctrine changes, underscores growing international concern over the war’s expansion.
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John Q. Hosedrinker