North Korean troops pull back from Kursk due to heavy losses — media

The New York Times reported the information, citing Ukrainian and U.S. officials.

"North Korean soldiers who joined their Russian allies in battle against Ukrainian forces have been pulled off the front lines after suffering heavy casualties," the report states.

The North Korean troops have not been seen on the front line for about two weeks, officials said.

In November 2023, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers arrived in Russia to fight against Ukraine. However, in three months, the number of North Koreans decreased by half, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Ukrainian soldiers who fought against the North Koreans described them as fierce fighters. However, disorganization within their ranks and a lack of cohesion with Russian units quickly led to losses, said a Ukrainian official. Since their arrival on the battlefield, the North Korean soldiers were left to fend for themselves, advancing with limited armored vehicles and rarely stopping to regroup or retreat, Ukrainian military officials added.

U.S. officials stated that the decision to withdraw North Korean forces from the front line may not be permanent. It is quite possible, they said, that the North Koreans could return after additional training or when the Russians find new ways to deploy them to avoid such heavy losses.

• The North Korean military, which the Russian forces engaged to participate in the war against Ukraine, has not learned how to resist Ukrainian drones and artillery and is currently working with officers to “work on mistakes.”