North Korean Troops Face Ukrainian Fire in Kursk

Ukrainian soldiers clashed with North Korean troops near the Russian border in Kursk on Monday, marking the first confrontation involving the newly deployed foreign fighters. Andriy Kovalenko, a member of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, revealed that some of the 10, 000 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia are now engaged in combat in Kursk, where Kyiv controls several cities following a surprise counter-invasion earlier in the year. The encounter comes days after warnings from US, NATO, and South Korean intelligence that North Korean troops have been deployed to fight in Russia after a brief training period. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had specifically warned that Russia would utilize these soldiers in Kursk to counteract setbacks suffered there following Ukraine’s incursion in August. The Kursk region is a critical area for both sides. Kyiv’s forces still hold key locations like Sudzha, a significant transportation hub in western Russia. The struggle over this territory has been intense, with Moscow facing difficulties in recapturing lost ground. Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, affirmed the military’s resolve, stating that they would face and defeat any threat, including North Korean troops. The presence of North Korean fighters in Russia was a major topic during a meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. They expressed grave concern about the deployment, noting that it could involve the transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile technology, which would threaten global peace and stability. Despite neither Pyongyang nor Moscow officially confirming the military deployment, Russian state media reported a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui on Monday. The deployment of North Korean troops is seen as a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions by international officials.