The first North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia’s Kursk oblast to aid Moscow’s war came under fire, Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation department at the National Security and Defense Council, reported on November 4. from Ukraine.

THE official did not provide further details on the circumstances of the engagement or on possible losses on the North Korean side.

The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify these claims.

A few 8,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast to participate in the war against Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference on October 31.

The Russian border region has been the scene of heavy fighting since Ukraine launched a cross-border offensive early August. Moscow has deployed North Korean troops to the Kursk oblast to strengthen defenses there while its most experienced units continue to advance in eastern Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if Ukraine had permission to use Western long-range weapons on Russian territory, it could preemptively target “all camps” in Russia where North Korean troops are gathering.

Recently, kyiv warned that deploying North Korean troops into combat was only a matter of days. Ukraine estimates that Russia is preparing to send 12,000 North Korean troops to join its war, including special forces.

According to ZelenskyRussia confirmed to the West the involvement of Pyongyang’s forces in the war.

China was well aware of North Korean troop deployment, expert says

Beijing was quick to assert that it had no knowledge of the deepening partnership between Russia and North Korea. The United States jumped at the opportunity, hoping to pressure China to dissuade North Korea from taking an active part in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Observers, however, are skeptical about Chi…