"We cannot independently verify the losses of North Korean soldiers. They are in this region and are certainly prepared to engage in combat with the Ukrainians. However, I cannot confirm the reports of casualties at this time," she stated.
The Pentagon does not believe that North Koreans fighting on the side of Russia have crossed into Ukrainian territory.
"We have no indications that there are DPRK soldiers in Ukraine... They are in the Kursk region, but currently, they are not advancing into Ukrainian territory," emphasized the representative of the U.S. Department of Defense.
On November 23, the publication Global Defense Corp reported that approximately 500 North Korean soldiers were killed during an attack with Storm Shadow long-range missiles on command posts in the Kursk region on November 20. Journalists speculated that a Russian general and 18 officers also perished, while 33 Russian soldiers were injured.