Ukraine's defence minister confirms first small-scale clash with North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast

Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov confirmed that the first small-scale clash with North Korean troops took place on the Kursk front.

Source: Umierov in an interview with KBS

Details: In particular, Umierov confirmed that Ukrainian troops had their first clash with North Korean troops but said that it was a small clash and that DPRK troops would need more time to fully deploy on the Kursk front.

When asked about the first battle between Ukrainian and North Korean troops, Umierov said that there was a "small skirmish".

He also confirmed that this was the first official clash with the North Korean military.

The Ukrainian minister also said that the North Korean troops were disguised as Buryats and mixed with Russian troops.

The exact number of casualties or prisoners needs to be verified before an accurate statement can be made.

Quote from Umierov: "We are recording contacts with North Korean forces, but we believe that in a few weeks, there will be a greater number of combat clashes, and we will analyse and review them accordingly."

According to the minister, five divisions will be formed in the northeast, east, and southeast, each with around 3,000 troops, spread over about 1,500 kilometres of the frontline.

The North Korean troops are expected to be fully deployed on the battlefield after the exercises, which Umierov said will begin within the next 10-15 days and end within a few weeks.

Background:

• Ukrainian intelligence sources told the Financial Times that the first military clash between Ukrainian soldiers and North Korean troops took place in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
• Earlier, the Pentagon confirmed that North Korean troops who had arrived in Russia for training had begun to move towards Kursk Oblast, with some of them already present there. According to the latest US estimate, North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to Russia for training and combat operations against Ukraine.
• CNN sources believe that some of the North Korean military may already be in Ukraine.
• Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has reported that in the last week of October, Russia deployed more than 7,000 North Korean army soldiers to areas near Ukraine.

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