North Korean troops clashed with Ukrainian troops in Russian Kursk, NYT reports

NEW YORK – North Korean troops have clashed with Ukrainian forces fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, the New York Times reported late Nov. 5, citing an unnamed senior U.S. official and an unnamed senior Ukrainian official.

The interaction was limited and was likely intended to test Ukrainian lines for weaknesses, a Ukrainian official told the newspaper. The Ukrainian official added that North Korean troops fought alongside Russia’s 810th Separate Marine Brigade.

Reuters could not independently verify the New York Times report.

The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Pentagon and the US State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Ukrainian troops launched an invasion of the Kursk region bordering Russia in August, taking control of a number of population centers in the first such deployment into Russia since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Pentagon announced on November 4 that At least 10,000 North Korean troops were stationed in Russian Kursk but were unable to confirm reports that they took part in the fighting.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in an interview with South Korean television that the first clash occurred with North Korean troops.

The New York Times reported that it was unclear exactly when the fighting took place. A US official told the newspaper that a significant number of North Korean troops had been killed.

Zelensky said in an evening address on November 5 that the first battles between the Ukrainian military and North Korean troops “open a new page of instability in the world.” REUTERS