The North Korean forces have withdrawn from the front line following significant losses, according to the New York Times.

North Korean troops have been withdrawn from the front line in the Kursk region. The North Korean forces suffered significant losses in the battles.

This is reported by RBK-Ukraine citing The New York Times.

According to officials from Ukraine and the United States, the soldiers of the DPRK, who fought alongside Russian troops against Ukraine, were pulled back from the front line after sustaining heavy losses.

Anonymous sources from the publication indicate that North Korean troops have not been spotted on the front for about two weeks.

It is known that North Korea sent approximately 11,000 troops to Russia. As previously stated by the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, the number of North Korean forces has been halved over three months of fighting.

Ukrainian military personnel described the North Koreans as fierce warriors, but disorganization and a lack of cohesion with Russian units quickly led to their losses. DPRK soldiers advanced with limited armored vehicles and rarely stopped to regroup or retreat.

American officials told the NYT that the decision to withdraw North Korean troops from the front could change. They noted that it is quite possible that North Korean soldiers might return to the battlefield after additional training or once the Russians find new ways to deploy them to avoid such heavy losses.

Situation in the Kursk Region

The Ukrainian defense forces launched an operation in the Kursk region at the beginning of August 2024. At that time, Ukrainian troops managed to seize around a hundred settlements. As a result of the fighting, some territory was lost. However, battles continue in the Kursk region.

The Ukrainian command explained that the Kursk operation was a preventive measure to thwart a Russian advance in northern Ukraine.

In the fall, the Russians engaged North Korean troops in combat operations in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian defenders managed to capture the first DPRK soldiers, who were taken to Kyiv for investigative procedures.