- As of March 2025, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) forces had highly likely sustained over 5,000 casualties in offensive combat operations against Ukrainian forces in the Russian oblast of Kursk, with approximately a third of the casualties killed in action.
- The total casualties amount to close to half of the approximately 11,000 DPRK troops initially deployed to the Kursk region. Open source reports suggest DPRK has subsequently deployed limited numbers of additional troops to Kursk in support. Significant DPRK casualty rates have almost certainly been sustained primarily through large, highly attritional dismounted assaults.
- DPRK forces and Russian forces have made territorial gains in recent weeks in offensive operations against Ukrainian forces in Kursk. Ukrainian forces likely retain at least a foothold in the Russian territory of Kursk.
- DPRK operations have thus far been confined to the Kursk region. Any decision to deploy into internationally recognised, sovereign Ukrainian territory in support of Russian forces, would almost certainly require sign-off from both Russia’s President Putin, and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.