**Russia’s North Korean Allies Suffer Heavy Losses**
US defense officials have confirmed that the number of casualties among North Korean forces fighting alongside Russian troops has been significant. According to a US military official, “a couple hundred” North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in combat operations against Ukrainian forces near Kursk.
The exact number of casualties is not known, but this is the first time officials have made a public assessment since North Korea deployed its troops to support Russia’s war efforts. The official attributed the heavy losses partly to the North Korean troops‘ lack of combat experience.