A Ukrainian brigade says North Korean troops have 'disappeared' in its area as Pyongyang's forces grow quie

 

A Ukrainian brigade operating in the Kursk region has recently reported no encounters with North Korean troops, raising questions about Pyongyang's role on the battlefield. Petro Gaidashchuk, a senior communications officer with the 80th Air Assault Brigade, told Radio NV that while North Korean forces have been reported elsewhere, they have "disappeared" from his brigade’s area of operations.

“In January, the front was saturated with North Koreans, particularly in the area of responsibility of the Galician Brigade,” Gaidashchuk said in an interview published Monday. The 80th Air Assault Brigade is sometimes referred to as the Galician Brigade.

“As of now, reports of their presence are only partially accurate,” he continued. “We have not observed them in our sector. Other brigades had interactions with them a few days ago, but as of now, they have disappeared.”

Gaidashchuk speculated that the North Korean troops may have withdrawn due to heavy casualties.

“They withdrew, but we do not know why,” he said.

Other recent reports have echoed this observation. After weeks of attempting to storm Ukrainian positions in Kursk, North Korea’s forces have become noticeably less active since late January.

A spokesperson for Ukraine’s special forces told local media that their unit had not seen North Korean soldiers for weeks, indicating that the Russian-allied troops had been "forced to withdraw." The New York Times, citing Ukrainian and U.S. officials, reported similar findings, stating that Pyongyang’s forces had been "taken off the front line."

South Korea’s national intelligence agency also reported in early February that North Korean troops had been withdrawn from combat.

Western intelligence estimates suggest that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Ukraine late last year, with around 4,000 wounded or killed since then. The UK Defense Ministry assessed that these losses likely forced North Korean units to temporarily retreat to "rest and refit before redeploying."

However, North Korea's presence in Kursk has not vanished entirely.

On February 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that North Korean troops had resumed "new assaults" in Kursk, though the scale of their return remains unclear.

Speaking to The War Zone in late January, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov noted a significant reduction in North Korean activity in Kursk but cautioned against assuming their complete withdrawal.

“We need to wait and see if these changes are lasting or just a temporary lull,” Budanov said, disputing reports that North Korean forces had entirely pulled back.

Zelenskyy Declares Victory Over Pyongyang

Uncertainty over North Korea’s next move comes as Pyongyang and Moscow deepen their defense ties in response to international sanctions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supplied troops, weapons, and ammunition to Russia, with reports suggesting that Moscow is providing financial support, technological expertise, and food in return.

The involvement of North Korean troops in Kursk initially raised concerns in the West that Russia’s invasion was drawing direct participation from other states. However, it remains unclear whether Pyongyang’s role will escalate as feared or diminish.

On Saturday, Zelenskyy expressed confidence in Ukraine’s fight against North Korean forces.

“We destroyed the North Korean units that Putin had to deploy because his forces weren’t enough to stop our counteroffensive,” Zelenskyy said during his speech at the Munich Security Conference.

However, he warned against underestimating Pyongyang’s capabilities.

“Make no mistake—North Koreans are not weak,” he said. “They are learning how to fight, how to wage modern war.”

Russia’s defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider outside regular business hours.