White House National Security Adviser John Kirby said Russia considers North Korean troops “too expensive” to send into its war with Ukraine.
“It's clear that Russian and North Korean military leaders are taking these forces seriously and ordering them to launch a desperate attack against Ukrainian defenses,” Kirby said during a press briefing on Friday.
“These North Korean soldiers seem to be very focused, pushing for an attack even when it is clear that the attack is futile,” he added.
He commented on the many casualties and failed equipment of the North Korean military, which led to suicide on the battlefield.
“We also have reports of North Korean soldiers killing themselves instead of surrendering to the Ukrainian army, perhaps out of fear of being sent back to their families in North Korea if they are caught,” Kirby said.
His comments came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the capture of soldiers who were taken as prisoners of war, and who died shortly after being captured.
“Today we received reports about several soldiers from North Korea, which our soldiers were able to capture. But they were seriously injured and could not recover,” said Zelensky in his speech on Friday.
“This is one of the signs of the crazy tyranny they know,” he said. “The Korean nation should not lose its people in European wars.”
He urged China to put pressure on Kim Jong Un and the leaders of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, to back off the war effort.
Kirby cited widespread injuries among North Korean soldiers during Friday's game.
“Our estimate is that, so far, more than 1,000 1,000 have been killed or injured in this war in the last week alone,” said Kirby.
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