Reports have emerged that North Korean troops deployed in Russia are facing severe morale issues as casualties mount on the frontlines. According to the New Voice of Ukraine (NV) on January 2, citing Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR), some North Korean soldiers were observed heavily intoxicated on New Year’s Eve, reflecting declining discipline and morale within the ranks.
The HUR reported that some North Korean troops stationed on the Kursk front in southwestern Russia drank excessively on the night of December 31. Analysts believe that extreme stress, including witnessing fellow soldiers being killed by Ukrainian drone strikes, has contributed to this behavior.
The report suggests that the Russian military is becoming increasingly concerned about the deteriorating morale of their North Korean allies. Despite efforts by Russian commanders to boost spirits by emphasizing the importance of their involvement in the war, these attempts appear to have been largely ineffective.
Furthermore, HUR alleged that lower-level Russian officers have been falsifying casualty reports, underreporting the number of North Korean soldiers killed to avoid backlash from higher command.
The Ukrainian media outlet also reported that a high-ranking North Korean officer was recently sent to Russia to investigate the high casualty rate among North Korean forces. The visit was reportedly prompted by the significant losses sustained by North Korean units during the recent battles in Kursk. Although combat operations involving North Korean troops were temporarily halted during the officer’s visit, they have since resumed.
On December 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed in the Kursk region. This figure was partially corroborated by the White House, which reported on December 27 that over 1,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or injured in just one week.
There are also claims that one of the four North Korean brigades deployed to Kursk became combat-ineffective within ten days of deployment due to heavy losses. Despite this, reports indicate that Russia continues to conceal the extent of North Korean casualties while deploying additional North Korean forces to the frontlines.
According to local media outlet RBC, citing Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate, new North Korean units were spotted near military bases in Kursk and in settlements around Ulanok, Panseyevka, and Cherkasskaya Konofelka around the New Year period.
BY SUYOUNG HA, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
