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| Ukraine says N Korea troops may have quit front line after heavy losses | |
| (10 days later) | |
| North Korean soldiers march during a parade in Pyongyang in 2018 | North Korean soldiers march during a parade in Pyongyang in 2018 |
| Ukrainian special forces fighting in Russia's western Kursk region have told the BBC they have not seen any North Korean troops there for the past three weeks. | Ukrainian special forces fighting in Russia's western Kursk region have told the BBC they have not seen any North Korean troops there for the past three weeks. |
| A spokesman said it was likely they had pulled out after suffering heavy losses. | A spokesman said it was likely they had pulled out after suffering heavy losses. |
| Last week, Western officials told the BBC that, out of some 11,000 troops sent from North Korea to fight for Russia, 1,000 had been killed in just three months. | Last week, Western officials told the BBC that, out of some 11,000 troops sent from North Korea to fight for Russia, 1,000 had been killed in just three months. |
| North Korea and Russia have not commented. | North Korea and Russia have not commented. |
| On Friday, the Ukrainian special forces spokesman told the BBC he was only referring to areas in the Kursk region where his forces were fighting. | On Friday, the Ukrainian special forces spokesman told the BBC he was only referring to areas in the Kursk region where his forces were fighting. |
| The spokesman did not say how long that front line was. | The spokesman did not say how long that front line was. |
| And while this is not the full picture, it does suggest significant North Korean casualties. | And while this is not the full picture, it does suggest significant North Korean casualties. |
| Separately, the New York Times also reported that the North Koreans had been pulled off the front lines. | Separately, the New York Times also reported that the North Koreans had been pulled off the front lines. |
| The newspaper quoted US officials as saying the withdrawal may not be a permanent one, and the soldiers could return after receiving additional training or after the Russians come up with new ways of deploying them to avoid such heavy casualties. | The newspaper quoted US officials as saying the withdrawal may not be a permanent one, and the soldiers could return after receiving additional training or after the Russians come up with new ways of deploying them to avoid such heavy casualties. |
| Reports attributed to South Korean intelligence say the North Koreans are unprepared for the realities of modern warfare, and are especially vulnerable to being targeted by Ukrainian drones. | Reports attributed to South Korean intelligence say the North Koreans are unprepared for the realities of modern warfare, and are especially vulnerable to being targeted by Ukrainian drones. |
| North Koreans suffer 1,000 losses | North Koreans suffer 1,000 losses |
| What are North Korean troops doing in Ukraine? | What are North Korean troops doing in Ukraine? |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un have in recent months deepened bilateral ties, signing a security and defence treaty. | Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un have in recent months deepened bilateral ties, signing a security and defence treaty. |
| Pyongyang's assistance to Moscow now also extends to large amounts of ammunition and weapons. | Pyongyang's assistance to Moscow now also extends to large amounts of ammunition and weapons. |
| Last August, elite Ukrainian troops launched a lightning offensive in Kursk, seizing more than 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles) of Russian territory. | Last August, elite Ukrainian troops launched a lightning offensive in Kursk, seizing more than 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles) of Russian territory. |
| Since then, Russian forces have managed to retake a sizeable chunk of that region. | Since then, Russian forces have managed to retake a sizeable chunk of that region. |
| Kyiv's surprise incursion was aimed at changing the dynamics of the war. | Kyiv's surprise incursion was aimed at changing the dynamics of the war. |
| It was initially hoped the operation would relieve pressure on other parts of the more than 1,000km-long (620 miles) frontline, particularly in eastern Ukraine. | It was initially hoped the operation would relieve pressure on other parts of the more than 1,000km-long (620 miles) frontline, particularly in eastern Ukraine. |
| Moscow is continuing its relentless - albeit slow - advance in the east, seizing a number of settlements in the Donetsk region in recent weeks. | Moscow is continuing its relentless - albeit slow - advance in the east, seizing a number of settlements in the Donetsk region in recent weeks. |
| Now Kyiv is looking to hold on to the land it occupies in Kursk as leverage for any possible ceasefire or peace negotiations with Moscow. | Now Kyiv is looking to hold on to the land it occupies in Kursk as leverage for any possible ceasefire or peace negotiations with Moscow. |
| Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. | Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. |