North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces have been pulled back from the front lines after suffering heavy losses, The New York Times reported, citing Ukrainian and U.S. officials.
According to the newspaper’s sources, North Korean soldiers have been missing from the front for about two weeks. A Ukrainian official attributed their heavy casualties to disorganization and a lack of coordination with Russian units.
Ukrainian sources told The New York Times that North Korean soldiers have been left to operate largely on their own on the battlefield, with minimal support.
On January 27, Sky News also reported that North Korean troops had been withdrawn due to significant losses, citing a Ukrainian special forces commander. He suggested they were either “learning lessons from mistakes made during their first, bloody clashes with Ukrainian soldiers, tending to their wounded or waiting for reinforcements.”
U.S. officials believe the withdrawal may be temporary, saying North Korean troops could return after further training or if Russia devises strategies to minimize casualties.