White House: Mass casualties among North Korean troops fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine

North Korean forces fighting on the front lines of Russia’s war against Ukraine are experiencing staggering losses. The White House reported Friday that a thousand North Korean troops were killed or injured in the past week alone in Russia’s Kursk region.

“It is clear that Russian and North Korean military leaders are treating these troops as expendable, ordering them on hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses,” said John Kirby, White House national security spokesperson.

Dire Conditions for North Korean Troops

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed these sentiments during his nightly address, noting the harsh conditions faced by the North Korean troops. He stated that they were deployed with minimal protection and took extreme measures to avoid being captured.

“Everything is set up so that it is impossible for us to capture them. In some instances, they are executed by their own forces. Russians send them into assaults with minimal protection,” Zelenskyy said.

Kirby described the offensive as “massed, dismounted assaults,” a tactic that has resulted in devastating casualties.

North Korea’s mission to the United Nations and Russia’s U.N. mission declined to comment on the reports.

U.S. Prepares Additional Aid for Ukraine

The White House also announced that President Joe Biden is expected to approve a new $1.25 billion security assistance package for Ukraine in the coming days. According to sources, the package will include munitions for advanced air defense systems, Stinger missiles, and artillery rounds.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine during a discussion with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Slovakia Offers to Host Peace Talks

Amid the escalating violence, Slovakia has reiterated its readiness to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar stated on Facebook that the country remains open to facilitating negotiations, provided all parties, including Russia, participate.

“We consider the statement of the Russian president as a positive signal to end this war, this bloodshed, and this destruction as soon as possible,” Blanar said, referring to Vladimir Putin’s recent openness to Slovak-hosted talks.

However, Slovakia’s stance on the conflict has sparked controversy. Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has maintained close ties with Moscow, recently halted Slovak military aid to Ukraine and faced criticism for meeting with Putin in Moscow on December 22.

Escalating Violence on the Ground

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces reported shooting down 13 of 24 Russian drones launched in an overnight attack. The remaining drones reportedly caused no significant damage.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have captured two villages—Ivanivka in Donetsk and Zahryzove in Kharkiv. However, these claims remain unverified.

As the war grinds on, North Korean troops face dire consequences, and efforts to find a diplomatic resolution remain fraught with challenges.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.