Approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and over 4,000 wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported Monday during a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly’s intelligence committee.
The assessment comes just two days after North Korea officially confirmed, for the first time, that it had deployed troops to Russia in support of the Kremlin’s military campaign. According to lawmakers Lee Seong-kweun of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and Kim Byung-kee of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), the NIS estimates that Pyongyang has sent around 15,000 troops, with total casualties reaching approximately 4,700, including 600 deaths.
The lawmakers said the NIS explained that North Korean troops were deployed in two phases and that fighting has decreased since April, after Russian forces recaptured much of the Kursk region along the front line.
Although the agency has not detected signs of a new troop deployment from North Korea, it has not ruled out the possibility. Back in January, the NIS had already reported that at least 300 North Korean soldiers had died and around 2,700 had been injured.
In return for its military support and arms exports, North Korea is believed to have received advanced military technology from Russia, including a satellite launch platform, drones, electronic warfare equipment, and SA-22 surface-to-air missiles.
The two countries are also reportedly negotiating industrial cooperation in 14 strategic sectors, including aviation, energy, and tourism. In addition, around 15,000 North Korean laborers are expected to be sent to Russia, according to the NIS.
Regarding the upcoming 80th anniversary of Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, the NIS considers it unlikely that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will attend, citing the absence of security preparations. Instead, Choe Ryong-hae, president of the Supreme People’s Assembly’s Standing Committee, or another senior official may attend in his place.
Victory Day marks the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. The NIS noted that Kim’s potential visit to Russia may be rescheduled, as bilateral relations have reached a new “turning point” following the confirmed troop deployment.
In a separate report, the NIS warned of 11 incidents since June last year in which Chinese nationals were caught photographing military facilities and other state-protected sites in South Korea without authorization. Most of those involved were tourists or students, who took photos of military bases, airports, ports, and NIS buildings.
While the individuals claimed they were simply documenting their trips, the agency suspects coordinated attempts to bypass local laws, citing the use of high-performance cameras and walkie-talkies outside restricted zones.
The NIS described these incidents as “low-intensity intelligence activities” aimed at gathering information on South Korean and U.S. assets and undermining national security by dispersing counterintelligence efforts. The agency urged lawmakers to consider revising espionage laws to cover not only North Koreans but also foreign nationals.
