The Kremlin declined to comment on reports concerning the withdrawal of North Korean soldiers from the front line, as stated on a Friday by spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Intelligence from Western, South Korean, and Ukrainian sources indicated that over 10,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to assist Russian forces in the western Kursk region. This area is currently experiencing a cross-border offensive from Ukraine.
According to a report by the New York Times on Thursday, citing U.S. and Ukrainian officials, these North Korean troops had not been seen engaging in combat for approximately two weeks after suffering heavy casualties. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned on Wednesday that certain North Korean units had indeed been pulled back from the front lines, as reported by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces.
When asked about the situation on Friday, Peskov stated that there were numerous arguments regarding the issue but chose not to comment further. He remarked, “There are a lot of different arguments out there, both right and wrong… It’s not worth commenting on every time.”
Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released footage purportedly showing captured North Korean soldiers taken by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. Kyiv and its Western allies have condemned the involvement of North Korean fighters, viewing it as a significant escalation in the ongoing three-year conflict.