KYIV, Jan 12: In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have prepared to confront an unexpected enemy: North Korean troops dispatched to support Moscow’s military after Ukraine executed a swift incursion and took territory in Russia’s Kursk region last summer.
Their introduction into the conflict signals a troubling new stage in the war. Although initially untested in combat, North Korean soldiers have adapted rapidly — a change that could have significant implications as they gather battlefield experience in the conflict against Ukraine.
In contrast to the Russian troops Ukraine has fought for nearly three years, Ukrainian forces find themselves uncertain about what to anticipate from this new challenger, brought into the fray following an agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang promising military aid using “all means” if either was attacked.
One Ukrainian soldier who has encountered North Koreans in combat characterized them as disciplined and systematic, asserting that they displayed a higher level of professionalism compared to their Russian peers. This soldier spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of military operations.
Conversely, other soldiers, including those from Ukrainian special forces, have shared battlefield drone footage on the Telegram app, ridiculing the North Koreans’ tactics as outdated.
Nonetheless, there is agreement among Ukrainian troops, military intelligence officials, and observers: While North Korean forces initially lacked battlefield experience, this is changing quickly.
With 1.2 million troops, North Korea’s military ranks among the largest in the world. However, its engagement in foreign conflicts since the Korean War has been minimal, leaving it inexperienced with modern warfare technologies, such as drones.
“For the first time in decades, the North Korean army is gaining real military knowledge,” stated Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. “This poses a global challenge — not just for Ukraine and Europe, but for the entire world.”
Identifying the presence of North Korean soldiers
Despite assertions from Ukraine, the US, and South Korea that Pyongyang has deployed 10,000-12,000 troops to assist Russia in the Kursk border area, Moscow has yet to officially acknowledge the presence of North Korean forces.
Although reports of their presence surfaced in October, Ukrainian forces did not confirm engagement until December.
Analysts suggest that, without North Korean reinforcements, Russia would have faced difficulties in its strategy of overwhelming Ukraine by deploying large numbers of troops into the battle for Kursk.
Moscow’s counteroffensive in Kursk has resulted in thousands of Ukrainian casualties; however, Kyiv’s stretched forces have managed to retain control over approximately half of the 984 square kilometers (380 square miles) captured in August, although the situation is fluid. Beyond the symbolic significance of Ukraine’s territorial gains, control of Kursk could also serve as leverage in potential ceasefire negotiations.
According to Ukraine’s intelligence agency, North Korean forces are operating alongside Russian units, which provide reconnaissance and electronic warfare support.
The North Koreans reportedly wear Russian military uniforms and carry counterfeit military IDs, making them easily mistaken for Russian soldiers, according to a report from a Ukrainian military unit that has monitored them on the battlefield.
This deception allows Moscow and “its representatives at the UN to deny these facts,” said Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence.
Yusov added that their presence is further evidenced by intercepted communications in which they speak Korean with distinct accents.
He noted that North Korean soldiers are using their own weapons and equipment and have learned to navigate improvised explosive-laden drones that have become emblematic of this war, gaining firsthand experience that even some NATO countries do not have.
“This is a new level of threat,” Yusov warned. “Regional countries must prepare for what this indicates for the future.”
North Koreans acquire invaluable combat experience
The North Koreans’ initial blunders were mainly due to their lack of experience, which included moving in large groups across open land, making them vulnerable to drones and artillery fire.
According to the report from the Ukrainian military unit, the North Korean soldiers were easily spotted as they traveled in single-file formations through forests in groups of three, maintaining 3 to 5 meters (yards) between each soldier.
On flat terrains, they displayed dispersed formations of five to 15 soldiers, rendering them susceptible to heavy losses.
However, during night operations, their movements were rapid, as units navigated using red flashlights along specific routes, as reported.
“They’re quick, physically well-prepared, and follow their protocols meticulously,” remarked the Ukrainian soldier who spoke to the AP. “If you train the same procedures for years to the extent that they can be performed blindfolded, the results will be evident.”
Despite their discipline, their inexperience in combat situations has impaired their effectiveness. The Ukrainian military has reported heavy casualties among North Korean troops, with many falling victim to drone strikes.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy estimated the number of North Koreans killed or injured at 4,000, while US estimates placed it around 1,200.
“Much of their military doctrine and training relies on strategies and experiences that are over half a century old,” explained Glib Voloskyi, a military analyst with the Ukrainian think tank CBA Initiatives Centre.
Their tendency to form large groups stems from a time when artillery accuracy was significantly lower, making troop movements harder to detect. Today, reconnaissance and first-person view (FPV) drones, which provide real-time video, have rendered the battlefield highly transparent, and any movement not conducted under cover is quickly noted.
“However, it is merely a matter of time before they develop the skills needed to enhance their combat effectiveness, which, when combined with their discipline and training, could transform them into a formidable military force,” Voloskyi pointed out.
No surrender policy results in few North Korean POWs
After prolonged combat, Ukraine has managed to capture only two prisoners of war from the North Korean side. During a Saturday announcement, Zelenskyy remarked that capturing them alive “was not easy” due to efforts to conceal the presence of North Koreans and evade interrogation by Ukraine.
North Korean soldiers are reported to avoid surrender at all costs, said Zelenskyy.
This behavior may stem from North Korean propaganda that depicts capture as the ultimate disgrace, according to analysts.
“To be captured alive is seen as a betrayal of the nation, the leader, and everything they represent,” said Seongmin Lee of the New York-based Human Rights Foundation, who defected from North Korea in 2009.
This notion is ingrained from a young age and reinforced throughout military training, as Lee explained, “Due to the shame associated with surrender, heroic soldiers are expected to reserve the last of their ammunition to take their own lives.”
Lee mentioned sharing photographs of deceased North Korean soldiers with contacts in his homeland. “Most North Koreans remain oblivious to the true situation,” he added.
Dorothy Camille Shea, the deputy US ambassador to the UN, alerted the Security Council of the dangers posed by the rapidly evolving combat skills North Korean soldiers are acquiring while fighting in Kursk.
North Korea “is significantly benefitting from the acquisition of Russian military equipment, technology, and experience, making it more capable of conducting warfare against its neighbors,” Shea informed the 15-member UN Security Council on Wednesday.
Additionally, she noted that North Korea “will likely seek to leverage these advancements to promote global arms sales and military training contracts.” (AP)
