Mon Dec 23 21:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Thousands of North Korean Soldiers Killed or Wounded in Ukraine: South Korea

**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea estimates that over 1,100 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. This figure, released Monday by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), is based on various intelligence sources and follows a report last week from Seoul’s spy agency that placed the death toll at at least 100 since December. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered a significantly higher estimate of over 3,000 casualties.

The JCS also revealed that North Korea is supplying Russia with weapons, including self-destructible drones, 240mm rocket launchers, and 170mm self-propelled artillery. Intelligence suggests Pyongyang is preparing to rotate or further deploy troops to support the Russian war effort. South Korea believes North Korea aims to modernize its military based on combat experience in Ukraine, potentially increasing threats to the Korean peninsula.

The increased military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, solidified by a landmark defense pact signed in June, is raising concerns. Experts suggest North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seeks advanced technology and combat experience for his troops in return for military aid to Russia. This growing partnership has led to increased risk of destabilization on the Korean Peninsula, according to Zelenskyy.

While South Korea hasn’t committed to supplying weapons to Ukraine, President Yoon Suk Yeol previously stated that option remains open. Meanwhile, North Korea has intensified border security measures, mobilizing up to 10,000 soldiers to build a 40-kilometer-long new fence and prevent defections. Pyongyang also launched thousands of trash-filled balloons into South Korea since May in apparent retaliation for propaganda balloons sent from the South.

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