February 6, 2025
SEOUL – North Korean troops deployed to support Russia’s war in Ukraine have suffered heavy casualties, with up to 50 percent killed or injured as Moscow continues to rely on “attrition warfare,” a US expert said.
Seth Jones, director of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a CSIS podcast that aired Tuesday, “The casualty numbers were astonishing … with estimates ranging from one-third to 50 percent losses, meaning potentially 1,000 deaths.”
“These (North Korean) troops had little food or cold-weather gear but carried plenty of ammunition,” he added.
According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea has deployed 11,000 to 12,000 troops since November 2024, primarily to the Kharkiv region of Ukraine — a territory recently recaptured by Ukrainian forces — where they have been actively engaged on the front lines.
Jones described the deployment as “fierce but disorganized,” citing cultural and linguistic barriers that limited cooperation with Russian forces. “The cohesion between North Korean and Russian forces, including command and control, was poor,” he said. “There were significant language barriers.”
Jones attributed the heavy casualties to Moscow’s reliance on attrition warfare. “Instead of maneuvering strategies, they send waves of troops to take territory, accepting high casualties in the process,” he said.
Jones also noted that, despite the deployment, Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be entirely satisfied with North Korea’s contribution. “North Korean troops have not significantly altered the battlefield. Russia has regained small areas in Kharkiv but nothing major,” he said.
Instead of providing a battlefield advantage, Jones suggested that the experience could serve as a strategic benefit for North Korea.
“This deployment gives them exposure to combined arms operations, drone warfare, electronic warfare and logistical planning for protracted war,” Jones said, adding that it could help North Korea better prepare for future conflicts.
Meanwhile, Jones noted that North Korean forces have largely disappeared from the front lines in recent weeks, but the reason for their apparent absence remains unclear.
Earlier this week, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service also confirmed that there have been no signs of North Korean troops engaging in combat on the front lines since mid-January.
The intelligence agency added that heavy casualties could be one reason for their possible withdrawal but that further verification is needed.