More than 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been injured or killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to Washington, these soldiers dispatched by Pyongyang would be used as cannon fodder by Moscow.
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With our correspondent in Washington, Loubna Anaki
For the White House, Russian and North Korean military officials see these North Korean troops as being able to be sacrificed. This is what John Kirby made known this Friday, December 27.
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The spokesperson for the White House Security Council assures that more than a thousand soldiers sent by Pyongyang to participate in Moscow’s war against Ukraine have been injured or killed. He adds that these North Korean forces are being sent to carry out dismounted operations against Ukrainian positions in the Kursk border region. Operations that “ often lack effectiveness », specifies John Kirby.
He said North Korean soldiers also resort to suicide rather than surrender, for fear of reprisals against their families if they are captured. Officially, neither Russianor the North Korea do not confirm the presence of these troops, but Washington, Seoul and kyiv affirm that Moscow has received help from its ally.
Wounded North Korean soldiers also died in Ukraine after being taken prisoner, announced Friday Volodymyr Zelenskythe Ukrainian president, quoted by AFP.
The Korean people should not lose their lives in battles in Europe.
Volodymyr Zelensky on the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine
John Kirby spoke of cases of suicide: “ These North Korean soldiers appear to be highly indoctrinated… North Korean soldiers are reported to have killed themselves rather than surrender to Ukrainian forces, probably for fear of reprisals against their families in North Korea in case they they would be captured “.
Also readUkraine captured North Korean soldier, who later died of his wounds, Seoul says