Russia using North Korean soldiers as cannon fodder - South Korean MP

South Korean lawmaker Lee Song-kwon, who was briefed by the country's intelligence agency, said the number of wounded and killed North Korean soldiers shows their unpreparedness for modern warfare, including drone attacks, Reuters reported.

"Russia is probably using them as cannon fodder," Lee Song-kwon said.

Also, according to former North Korean soldier Kim, who defected to South Korea in 2022, for some North Korean soldiers, being captured and returning to Pyongyang would be worse than death, so they kill themselves right on the battlefield.

"Self-destruction and suicide are a reality for North Korea. These soldiers who went to fight were brainwashed and truly willing to sacrifice themselves for Kim Jong Un. Becoming a prisoner of war means betrayal. Being captured means you are a traitor. Leave the last bullet behind - that's what we talk about in the military," Kim said.

Ukraine's special operations forces previously reported that Ukrainian military personnel had discovered more than a dozen killed North Korean soldiers after a battle in the Kursk Oblast of the russian federation who had killed themselves trying to escape capture.

According to estimates by Ukraine and Western countries, the DPRK has sent about 11,000 troops to support russian forces in the Kursk Oblast. More than 3,000 of them have already been killed or wounded.

This is North Korea's first significant participation in a war since the 1950-53 Korean War.

As previously reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is ready to hand over captured North Korean soldiers to Kim Jong Un if he facilitates an exchange for Ukrainians held captive in russia. A video was also released showing two captured North Korean soldiers: one expressing a desire to stay in Ukraine, the other to return to the DPRK.