---
title: "North Korean troops killed in combat against Ukraine for first time, Pentagon says"
description: "WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - North Korean troops have entered combat alongside Russian forces in Kursk for the first time and Washington has indications that North Korean troops have been killed and injured, the Pentagon said on Monday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-12-16-north-korean-troops-killed-in-combat-against-ukraine-for-first-time-pentagon-says/"
published: "2024-12-16T21:15:10"
updated: "2024-12-16T21:18:04"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 147
---

# North Korean troops killed in combat against Ukraine for first time, Pentagon says

> WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - North Korean troops have entered combat alongside Russian forces in Kursk for the first time and Washington has indications that North Korean troops have been killed and injured, the Pentagon said on Monday.

By Reuters · Published 16 December 2024, 23:15 SAST · Updated 16 December 2024, 23:18 SAST

## Key points
- In a twist that could make a Cold War thriller blush, the Pentagon confirms that North Korean soldiers have traded their usual parade drills for combat boots in Kursk, suffering casualties as they join Russia's latest military misadventure.
- Pentagon confirms North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in Russia's Kursk region, suffering casualties.
- North Korean troops reportedly entered combat last week, though specific casualty numbers remain unclear.
- Ukraine claims at least 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded during recent clashes in Kursk.
- President Zelenskiy highlights significant deployment of North Korean troops by Russia for assaults in the area.

## Content

"We do assess that North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in Kursk... we do have indications that they have suffered casualties, both killed and wounded," Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder told reporters.

Ryder said he did not have details on numbers of North Korean casualties but added that the North Korean troops entered combat last week.

Ukraine [said on Monday](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3NH08I&linkedFromStory=true) that North Korean units fighting for Russia sustained losses of at least 30 soldiers killed or wounded around several villages on the front in Russia's Kursk region over the weekend.

The Ukrainian military spy agency's statement came after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Russia was using North Korean troops in significant numbers for the first time to conduct assaults in Kursk, a Russian region where Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion in August.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Ros Russell)