South Korean intelligence reveals why North Korean soldiers may have withdrawn from Kursk

(Dan Tri) - According to South Korean intelligence, the large number of casualties is believed to be the main reason why North Korean soldiers were withdrawn from Russia's Kursk territory.

Screenshot released by Ukraine shows North Korean soldiers receiving supplies at a Russian training base (Photo: Ukraine Strategic Communications and Security Center).

South Korean intelligence said that North Korean soldiers, who the West said were fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region, have not been seen on the battlefield for several weeks.

This information has given rise to speculation that they were ordered to retreat after suffering heavy losses.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirmed last week that North Korean troops had been withdrawn from the front line around mid-January this year.

Russia and North Korea have not yet made any comments regarding the above information.

Earlier sources said that North Korea sent about 11,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops against Ukrainian forces in Kursk in late 2024.

This is believed to be the agreement reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin after the two countries signed a bilateral defense agreement elevating diplomatic relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

However, South Korean intelligence officials said North Korea's involvement in Kursk had come at a cost.

Last January, President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a clip showing two North Korean soldiers captured by Kiev.

According to Western media, due to lack of proper training and no previous experience in combat, when deployed to Kursk, North Korean soldiers had to face harsh realities on the battlefield, partly because they were not familiar with the terrain, but mostly because they were discovered and attacked by Ukrainian drones.

South Korean intelligence said the large number of casualties was the main reason for the withdrawal of North Korean troops from the Kursk region.

Pyongyang has not publicly acknowledged its role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but President Putin in October 2024 did not deny that North Korean forces had entered Russia.

Meanwhile, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu also said that any such deployment would still be in accordance with international law.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/tinh-bao-han-quoc-tiet-lo-ly-do-linh-trieu-tien-co-the-da-rut-khoi-kursk-20250207140751320.htm