Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader, once more offers comfort to the relatives of soldiers who lost their lives in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the role of North Korean soldiers has become a topic of international interest. According to a lawmaker's statement, there are currently 1,500 North Korean soldiers on the front lines in Ukraine. However, the exact number of these soldiers who are still alive and serving remains unknown.
Reports suggest that Russia may be hosting several thousand injured or deceased North Korean soldiers. South Korean intelligence estimates that around 2000 North Korean soldiers have been killed, with thousands more wounded, in the conflict. These soldiers are believed to have been trained and deployed mainly in Russian territories such as Kursk Oblast.
The British Defense Ministry has also estimated that approximately 5,000 North Korean soldiers have likely been killed or injured serving Russia. This estimate aligns with the South Korean intelligence's findings.
The circumstances surrounding the deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia and their involvement in the war with Ukraine are not fully disclosed. The exchange proposal by Ukrainian President Zelensky for captured North Korean soldiers has not been confirmed by North Korea.
In a significant gesture, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un paid respects to family members of troops who were deployed to Russia and killed in combat during the war with Ukraine. A photograph, published by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, shows Kim Jong-un bowing to these family members on August 30.
In response to the situation, President Zelensky has offered to exchange captured North Korean soldiers for Ukrainians held in Russia. This proposal, too, awaits confirmation from North Korea.
The involvement of North Korean soldiers in the Ukraine-Russia conflict continues to be a matter of concern and uncertainty. As more information becomes available, the international community will closely monitor developments in this complex situation.
