About 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, said South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kwon, citing data from the South Korean National Intelligence Service, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
In April, intelligence "estimated the death toll at least 600," but based on updated estimates, the figure is now around 2,000, the lawmaker told the media.
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies say Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia's Kursk region in 2024 during an offensive by Kiev forces, as well as artillery shells, rockets and long-range missile systems.
South Korean opposition lawmaker Lee, a member of former President Yun Suk-yeol's party, also said South Korean intelligence believes North Korea plans to deploy another 6,000 troops to Russia, of which 1,000 have already arrived.
North Korea's KCNA news agency reported in Saturday that the previous day, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had spoken to the families of soldiers who fought on the Russian side and died in battles against Ukrainian forces.