The entire North Korean contingent of about 12,000 fighting against Ukrainian defense forces in the Kursk region could be killed or destroyed in the next three months. This conclusion was made by analysts of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), based on the current rate of losses of soldiers in the DPRK, reports UNIAN.

As analysts remind, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in early January 2025 that 3,800 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded in the Kursk region. According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service, by mid-January, 300 North Koreans had been killed in combat and 2,700 wounded in battle. Thus, the rate of North Korean casualties has been approximately 92 people per day since they began participating in major hostilities in early December 2024.

“North Korea has reportedly transferred about 12,000 North Korean troops to the Kursk region, and this entire North Korean contingent in the Kursk region could be killed or wounded in about 12 weeks (by mid-April 2025) if North Korean forces continue to suffer the same high rates losses in the future,” the report said.

The ISW notes that DPRK forces will continue to maintain a higher ratio of wounded to killed, as this is typical of armed conflict - while it is unclear whether wounded North Korean soldiers will return to combat and when.