N. Korean troop casualties exceed 3,000 in Ukraine, Seoul says

Young people, including students and youth league officials, sign petitions to join or return to the army this week, according to North Korean state media, at an undisclosed location in North Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency October 16, 2024.

Reuters

North Korean troop fatalities and injuries in Ukraine have likely exceeded 3,000, including about 300 deaths and 2,700 injuries, a South Korean lawmaker briefed by the country's spy agency said on Monday.

North Korean authorities appear to have called for its troops to commit suicide by blowing themselves up to evade capture, the lawmaker said citing the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Captured North Korean soldiers had not shown an intention to come to South Korea, though South Korea would cooperate with Ukraine if there was a request, Yonhap news agency also reported, citing NIS.

North Korea has been accused of covertly supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, including supplying weapons and deploying military personnel. Reports of North Korean involvement have drawn international criticism, with concerns raised over Pyongyang's role in exacerbating the conflict.