Around 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed while fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing South Korean lawmakers briefed by the country’s intelligence agency. The total number of North Korean military casualties — including both killed and wounded — is estimated at 4,700.
The soldiers who died were reportedly cremated in Russia’s Kursk region, where North Korean troops had been deployed, before their remains were sent back to North Korea.
According to South Korean intelligence, six months of involvement in the war has improved the North Korean forces’ combat capabilities as they've gained experience with new types of weaponry, including drones.
Overall, North Korea is believed to have deployed around 15,000 personnel to the conflict.