Hundreds of North Korean soldiers killed or wounded in Russia’s Kursk region — AP

Several hundred North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia’s Kursk region, the Associated Press reported, citing a senior military official. This is the first estimate of losses among the North Korean contingent fighting alongside Russia, the AP noted.

The official did not specify the exact number of casualties but noted that North Korea had sustained significant losses, largely due to its troops’ lack of combat experience.

Previously, the Pentagon and the White House confirmed that North Korean forces had suffered losses in initial clashes in the Kursk region but provided no additional details.

According to U.S. officials, the North Korean troops involved in the fighting are predominantly infantry. These soldiers are operating in the Kursk region both alongside Russian units and independently.