Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)
North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s occupied Kursk region are sustaining appalling losses, with 1,000 killed or wounded in the last week, the US claims.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that North Korean units had been conducting “human wave” attacks, which typically involve soldiers launching high-risk direct attacks in large numbers in a bid to overwhelm an opposing force.
Kirby said North Korean soldiers considered by to be “expendable” are carrying out massed, dismounted assaults against Ukrainian positions which he said “haven’t really been all that effective” and brought 1,000 casaulties, as reported by .
The US official said the forces, which Kyiv says have been sent to assist by Pyongyang, are highly indoctrinated and pushing attacks even when it’s obvious they are “futile”.
According to Kirby, these troops are choosing to take their own lives rather than surrender to , which he claimed is “likely out of fear of reprisal against their families”.
:
Kirby also said Washington would be providing Kyiv with further weapons to help it push back “these North Korean waves” around Kursk, which captured in a lightening raid on August 6.
But after making swift gains, has been losing ground as Putin looks to claw back the territory, which analysts believe Kyiv may have been seeking to use as a bargaining chip in any future negotiations, while diverting Russian military resources.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and have deepened ties since the war began in February 2022 with ‘s full-scale invasion.
It’s brought munitions supplies from North Korea and more recently personnel, Kyiv says, as continues to sustain heavy losses.
[REPORT]
An estimated 10,000 and 12,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been sent to fight alongside , with the first confirmed battles between and Russian forces on November 5.
According to Kyiv, the North Korean troops are among around 50,000 troops has deployed to the border region.
The presence of the soldiers has not been confirmed or denied by Moscow and Pyongyang.
is yet to comment on the losses claims put out by Washington.