North Korean Soldiers Go Missing on Ukraine Frontline

Eighteen North Korean soldiers have vanished from the Russian frontline near Ukraine, causing a stir. They were placed in the Kursk and Bryansk regions, not far from Ukraine. Russian troops are reportedly searching for them, while their commanders try to keep this quiet. This news follows reports that Moscow planned to form a battalion with North Korean troops sent by Kim Jong Un, to push Ukraine's forces out of the Kursk region. These soldiers were supposed to be part of a "special Buryat battalion, " named after a local ethnic group. Russia and North Korea have been strengthening their ties. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea, and they signed a partnership pact. This pact is similar to NATO's Article 5, meaning if one country is attacked, the other will help.Recently, South Korea's Defense Minister confirmed the possibility of this deployment. He also mentioned that reports of North Korean troop casualties were likely true. Six North Korean officers were reportedly killed near the Donetsk region in Ukraine, with three more injured. Last year, Ukraine's military intelligence reported North Korean servicepeople, including engineers, arriving in Russian-occupied territories near Donetsk. In September 2023, it was reported that Putin persuaded Kim to send North Korean citizens for construction work. North Korea has been supporting Russia in its war with Ukraine. The United States has accused North Korea of sending artillery to Russia, but both countries deny this.