Have North Korean fighters died in the Russia-Ukraine war?

Thousands of North Korean soldiers have died or been wounded according to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

Reports are emerging that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded while fighting in the Ukraine war on Russia’s side.

Authorities in Ukraine, South Korea and the United States have all reported deaths among North Korean soldiers near Ukraine’s border in Russia’s Kursk.

Here is what we know so far about the reported deaths and why North Koreans could be fighting the war in Ukraine:

North Korea has denied sending either troops or weapons to assist Russia.

However, in February this year, former South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik told reporters that Pyongyang had sent Moscow about 6,700 containers carrying millions of munitions starting September 2023 in exchange for raw materials to manufacture weapons, alongside food.