
12,000 North Koreans went to fight for Russia, now they’re nowhere to be found
By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)
The Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Friday, Jan. 31, soldiers have not seen North Korean troops on the front lines in Russia’s Kursk region in several weeks. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s military special forces told CNN he believes it is because of all the mass casualties Pyongyang’s soldiers have suffered.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
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North Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on CNNUkraine says North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia have been withdrawn
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaN. Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line – Ukraine
Click to see story on InquirerNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say – Boston News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WHDHUkraine: North Korean soldiers have withdrawn from Kursk fighting
Click to see story on PolitikenNorth Korean Troops Pulled From Kursk Front Line Amid Heavy Losses – NYT
Click to see story on The Moscow TimesNorth Korean troops not seen for 3 weeks in parts of Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s Special Forces say
Click to see story on The Kyiv IndependentRussia Pulls North Korean Soldiers Off Front Lines After Heavy Losses Against Ukraine
Click to see story on Latin TimesDPRK troops were withdrawn from the front line in Kurshchina after heavy losses,
Click to see story on censor.netNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on ABC57Ukraine says N Korea troops likely pulled from front line over heavy losses
Click to see story on BBC NewsNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KIFINorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KRDONorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line, says Ukraine
Click to see story on South China Morning PostNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on Channel News AsiaNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line
Click to see story on RTÉHave North Korean troops withdrawn from front lines? What we know
Click to see story on NewsweekUkraine, ‘the North Koreans away from the front after serious losses’
Click to see story on ANSADefense Ministry: Despite Losses, Russian Troops Continue to Advance
Click to see story on Eesti RahvusringhäälingNorth Korean Troops No Longer Seen on Front Lines
Click to see story on Political WireNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on France24North Korean troops retreat from frontline in Kursk region amid massive losses
Click to see story on Digi 24North Korean Troops Vanish From Ukraine War’s Front Lines, Officials Say
Click to see story on Radio Free Europe/ RadioLibertyNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KEYTNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KMIZ12,000 North Koreans went to fight for Russia, now they’re nowhere to be found
Click to see story on Straight Arrow NewsNYT: North Korean troops were withdrawn from the front line in the Kursk region
Click to see story on Lietuvos Radijas ir TelevizijaNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Russia’s Kursk front line, says Ukraine
Click to see story on The Straits TimesNorth Korean troops withdrawn by Russia from Kursk, claims Ukraine
Click to see story on India TodayNorth Korean troops have not been seen on the front lines for two weeks
Click to see story on ObservadorNorth Korean soldiers away from the war front
Click to see story on Svenska DagbladetUkraine: North Koreans were forced to retreat due to heavy losses
Click to see story on Die PresseNorth Korean troops taken off Russian frontline after ‘heavy losses’, says Ukraine
Click to see story on Firstpost NewsAfter Months of Using Them as Cannon Fodder, North Korean Troops Are Pulled From the Front Lines
Click to see story on Hot AirUkraine, North Korean soldiers retreat to Kursk. Kiev: “They will attack again”
Click to see story on American Military NewsJuche guns are popping up in Ukraine: why is Kim deploying his weapon right now
Click to see story on ilgiornale.itNorth Korean troops pull back in Kursk as Pyongyang prepares fresh deployment, officials say
Click to see story on FDD's Long War JournalNorth Korean soldiers ‘disappear’ from front line after suffering heavy losses
Click to see story on Daily ExpressMedia: North Koreans withdraw from frontline Ukraine
Click to see story on De TelegraafNorth Korean Troops Retreat From Kursk Front Line After Heavy Losses: NYT
Click to see story on Zero HedgeNorth Korean Troops in Russia Taken off Front Lines – Overpasses For America
Click to see story on overpassesforamerica.comRight
Untracked Bias
North Korean soldiers disappeared from the front line
Click to see story on IltalehtiUkrainian Officials: “North Korean Troops Dispatched to Russia Will Reorganize Units and Wait for Reinforcements”
Click to see story on NaverUkrainians haven’t seen North Koreans on the front line for weeks
Click to see story on 24 HUKiev believes North Korean soldiers have been “withdrawn” from the Kursk front line
Click to see story on Stirile Pro TVNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on PressNewsAgencyAmericans and Ukrainians have not seen North Koreans at the front for 2 weeks — NYT: EADaily
Click to see story on EADailyAmong the military of the DPRK, rotations are carried out due to heavy losses,
Click to see story on espreso.tvNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on Macau BusinessHow did we get here?
At the end of last year, around 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia and Ukraine, with around 4,000 having either been killed or injured since then.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced last week in Davos, Switzerland, that despite Russia’s 60,000 troops and 12,000 North Koreans in Kursk, Ukrainian forces remain in the region, fighting to hold onto Russian land in the hopes of having a better bargaining chip should peace talks start.
Who’s winning in Kursk?
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington D.C.-based think tank, also reports that Kyiv recently made some advancements in Kursk. While Russia’s Defense Ministry said Moscow’s forces recaptured a Kursk village on the border of Russia and Ukraine.
What have North Korean troops been doing?
Ukrainian military officials said they believe Pyongyang sent highly trained soldiers. However, Moscow has really only used them to carry out ground assaults and human-wave attacks, making them easy targets for Ukrainian fighters and drone pilots.
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What’s the recent history between Russia and North Korea?
So far, neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has publicly mentioned the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine. Although, as Straight Arrow News reported, months before Pyongyang soldiers went to fight in Russia’s war, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a key defense agreement, promising to aid each other in case of attack.
In addition to the troops, Pyongyang has also supplied Moscow with millions of artillery shells, rockets and missiles, according to Western intelligence.
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE SAYS IT HASN’T SEEN NORTH KOREAN TROOPS ON THE FRONTLINES IN RUSSIA’S KURSK REGION IN WEEKS,
A SPOKESEPERSON FOR UKRAINE’S MILITARY SPECIAL FORCES SAYS HE BELIEVES IT’S BECAUSE OF ALL THE MASS CASUALTIES THOSE SOLDIERS SUFFERED.
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, AROUND 12-THOUSAND NORTH KOREAN TROOPS WERE DEPLOYED TO RUSSIA AND UKRAINE SAYS AROUND FOUR THOUSAND WERE EITHER KILLED OR INJURED SINCE THEN
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK IN DAVOS THAT DESPITE RUSSIA’S 60-THOUSAND TROOPS IN KURSK AND 12-THOUSAND NORTH KOREANS, UKRAINIAN FORCES REMAIN IN THE REGION…FIGHTING TO HOLD ONTO RUSSIAN LAND IN THE HOPES OF HAVING A BETTER BARGAINING CHIP SHOULD PEACE TALKS START.
THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR, A D-C-BASED MILITARY THINK-TANK, ALSO REPORTS KYIV RECENTLY MADE SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN KURSK.
WHILE RUSSIA’S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS MOSCOW’S FORCES RECAPTURED A KURSK VILLAGE ON THE BORDER OF RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.
UKRAINIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE PYONGYANG SENT HIGHLY-TRAINED SOLDIERS BUT MOSCOW REALLY ONLY USED THEM TO CARRY OUT GROUND ASSAULTS AND MEAT-WAVE ATTACKS–MAKING EASY TARGETS FOR UKRAINIAN FIGHTERS AND DRONE PILOTS.
SO FAR, NEITHER MOSCOW NOR PYONYANG PUBLICLY MENTIONED THE PRESENCE OF NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS IN UKRAINE.
THOUGH, AS WE REPORTED, LAST YEAR, MONTHS BEFORE THOUSANDS OF PYONGYANG SOLDIERS WENT TO FIGHT IN RUSSIA’S WAR, DICTATOR VLADIMIR PUTIN AND KIM JONG UN SIGNED A KEY DEFENSE AGREEMENT PROMISING TO AID EACH OTHER IN CASE OF AN ATTACK.
IN ADDITION TO THE TROOPS, PYONGYANG ALSO SUPPLIED RUSSIA WITH MILLIONS OF ARTILLERY SHELLS, ROCKETS AND MISSILES, ACCORDING TO WESTERN INTELLIGENCE.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M RYAN ROBERTSON.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
North Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on CNNUkraine says North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia have been withdrawn
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaN. Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line – Ukraine
Click to see story on InquirerNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say – Boston News, Weather, Sports
Click to see story on WHDHUkraine: North Korean soldiers have withdrawn from Kursk fighting
Click to see story on PolitikenNorth Korean Troops Pulled From Kursk Front Line Amid Heavy Losses – NYT
Click to see story on The Moscow TimesNorth Korean troops not seen for 3 weeks in parts of Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s Special Forces say
Click to see story on The Kyiv IndependentRussia Pulls North Korean Soldiers Off Front Lines After Heavy Losses Against Ukraine
Click to see story on Latin TimesDPRK troops were withdrawn from the front line in Kurshchina after heavy losses,
Click to see story on censor.netNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on ABC57Ukraine says N Korea troops likely pulled from front line over heavy losses
Click to see story on BBC NewsNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KIFINorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KRDONorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line, says Ukraine
Click to see story on South China Morning PostNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on Channel News AsiaNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line
Click to see story on RTÉHave North Korean troops withdrawn from front lines? What we know
Click to see story on NewsweekUkraine, ‘the North Koreans away from the front after serious losses’
Click to see story on ANSADefense Ministry: Despite Losses, Russian Troops Continue to Advance
Click to see story on Eesti RahvusringhäälingNorth Korean Troops No Longer Seen on Front Lines
Click to see story on Political WireNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on France24North Korean troops retreat from frontline in Kursk region amid massive losses
Click to see story on Digi 24North Korean Troops Vanish From Ukraine War’s Front Lines, Officials Say
Click to see story on Radio Free Europe/ RadioLibertyNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KEYTNorth Korean troops pulled back from frontline after heavy losses, Ukrainian officials say
Click to see story on KMIZ12,000 North Koreans went to fight for Russia, now they’re nowhere to be found
Click to see story on Straight Arrow NewsNYT: North Korean troops were withdrawn from the front line in the Kursk region
Click to see story on Lietuvos Radijas ir TelevizijaNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Russia’s Kursk front line, says Ukraine
Click to see story on The Straits TimesNorth Korean troops withdrawn by Russia from Kursk, claims Ukraine
Click to see story on India TodayNorth Korean troops have not been seen on the front lines for two weeks
Click to see story on ObservadorNorth Korean soldiers away from the war front
Click to see story on Svenska DagbladetUkraine: North Koreans were forced to retreat due to heavy losses
Click to see story on Die PresseNorth Korean troops taken off Russian frontline after ‘heavy losses’, says Ukraine
Click to see story on Firstpost NewsAfter Months of Using Them as Cannon Fodder, North Korean Troops Are Pulled From the Front Lines
Click to see story on Hot AirUkraine, North Korean soldiers retreat to Kursk. Kiev: “They will attack again”
Click to see story on American Military NewsJuche guns are popping up in Ukraine: why is Kim deploying his weapon right now
Click to see story on ilgiornale.itNorth Korean troops pull back in Kursk as Pyongyang prepares fresh deployment, officials say
Click to see story on FDD's Long War JournalNorth Korean soldiers ‘disappear’ from front line after suffering heavy losses
Click to see story on Daily ExpressMedia: North Koreans withdraw from frontline Ukraine
Click to see story on De TelegraafNorth Korean Troops Retreat From Kursk Front Line After Heavy Losses: NYT
Click to see story on Zero HedgeNorth Korean Troops in Russia Taken off Front Lines – Overpasses For America
Click to see story on overpassesforamerica.comRight
Untracked Bias
North Korean soldiers disappeared from the front line
Click to see story on IltalehtiUkrainian Officials: “North Korean Troops Dispatched to Russia Will Reorganize Units and Wait for Reinforcements”
Click to see story on NaverUkrainians haven’t seen North Koreans on the front line for weeks
Click to see story on 24 HUKiev believes North Korean soldiers have been “withdrawn” from the Kursk front line
Click to see story on Stirile Pro TVNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on PressNewsAgencyAmericans and Ukrainians have not seen North Koreans at the front for 2 weeks — NYT: EADaily
Click to see story on EADailyAmong the military of the DPRK, rotations are carried out due to heavy losses,
Click to see story on espreso.tvNorth Korean troops ‘withdrawn’ from Kursk front line: Ukraine
Click to see story on Macau BusinessStraight to your inbox.
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