Ukrainian forces have been confronting an unfamiliar enemy on the battlefield: North Korean soldiers deployed to support Russia. Their arrival, following a summer incursion by Ukraine into Russia’s Kursk region, marks a significant escalation in the war.

Initially inexperienced, the North Korean troops have quickly adapted, raising concerns about the broader implications of their growing battlefield skills, AP reports.

Kyiv's forces, accustomed to fighting Russian troops, were uncertain about the tactics and capabilities of this new adversary. The deployment came after a pact between Moscow and Pyongyang to provide military assistance in the event of attacks.

A Ukrainian soldier who has encountered North Koreans in combat described them as disciplined and methodical, surpassing Russian troops in professionalism. However, drone footage shared by Ukrainian forces often mocks their outdated tactics. Despite early setbacks, observers agree that North Korean soldiers are learning quickly.

North Korea’s military is one of the largest in the world, with 1.2 million troops, but it has little experience with modern warfare. The war in Ukraine offers North Korean forces their first exposure to advanced combat scenarios, including drone warfare.

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According to Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence, this development poses a global challenge far beyond Ukraine.

Evidence of North Korean troop deployment

Despite estimates that 10,000-12,000 North Korean soldiers are fighting in the Kursk region, Russia has not officially acknowledged their presence. Ukrainian troops confirmed engagements with North Koreans in December, months after initial reports surfaced.

The addition of North Korean forces has bolstered Russia’s strategy of deploying large numbers of troops in Kursk. Ukrainian forces have managed to retain about half of the territory they captured during their summer offensive, though the situation remains fluid.

Kyiv’s military intelligence reports that North Koreans are integrated into Russian units, using Russian uniforms and fake identification to obscure their identity.

Intercepted communications revealing Korean accents and the use of North Korean weapons confirm their presence, according to Yusov. These soldiers have also gained experience countering improvised drones, a hallmark of the war in Ukraine.

Adapting to modern combat

Initially, North Korean troops suffered heavy losses due to outdated tactics, such as moving in large formations across open terrain, which made them easy targets for Ukrainian artillery and drones.

Reports from the Ukrainian military describe their movement in single-file columns in forests and dispersed groups in open areas, leading to significant casualties.

However, North Korean soldiers have displayed agility during nighttime operations, using red flashlights to navigate and executing swift maneuvers. A Ukrainian soldier noted their physical preparedness and strict adherence to routines honed over years of training.

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Military analysts highlight their lack of familiarity with modern warfare, with many strategies dating back decades. The advent of reconnaissance drones and real-time video technology has rendered traditional formations obsolete.

Despite these shortcomings, experts warn that North Korean troops are rapidly improving their combat effectiveness, which, combined with their discipline, could make them a formidable force.

Reluctance to surrender

North Korean soldiers rarely surrender, a reflection of the regime's indoctrination. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers, noting the difficulty of taking them alive. Analysts attribute this to North Korea's propaganda, which views capture as a betrayal and emphasizes death over surrender.

Seongmin Lee, a defector from North Korea, explained that this belief is ingrained from a young age. Images of dead North Korean soldiers shared with contacts inside the country reveal how little the population knows about their government’s involvement in the war.

The participation of North Korean troops in Ukraine not only strengthens their alliance with Russia but also equips Pyongyang with valuable military experience. Dorothy Camille Shea, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, warned that North Korea could leverage these skills to enhance its military capabilities and promote weapons sales worldwide.