North Korean troops bolster Russian offensive in Ukraine conflict
Andriy Cherniak, a representative of Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), stated that North Korean soldiers might be deployed alongside Russian forces in a potential new offensive on Ukraine's Kharkiv and Sumy regions. He also added that Kim Jong Un's army, after initial losses, has changed its tactics and become more threatening.
The Ukrainians estimate that Pyongyang, as part of its support to Moscow, has sent about 11,000 soldiers. They were deployed to fight in the Kursk region, where they suffered losses possibly reaching around 5,000 soldiers (including those killed and injured).
North Koreans changed tactics
Of the remaining group, some are still fighting near Kursk, while others are training and, according to the Ukrainians, this is yielding tangible results. The change in tactics is evident; the North Koreans now prefer more calculated assaults in much smaller groups instead of reckless attacks. This way, they are not as exposed to the weapons that had previously caused them the greatest losses—artillery and drones.
"The North Korean military initially began a large-scale offensive and was immediately decimated by Ukrainian artillery and drones. This forced them to change their tactics. Now, they move individually or in groups of two. Unfortunately, we can talk about evolution here, about the successful training outcomes of North Korean soldiers," explained Andriy Cherniak.
Additionally, North Korean soldiers have already learned to operate drones themselves and have started using electronic warfare tools. They have also gained proficiency in using the equipment and tactics adopted from the Russians.
Drones are the biggest scourge for North Koreans
In the offensive in the Kursk region, Ukrainians mainly use FPV (first-person view) drones. These are generally small commercial drones with built-in cameras that provide real-time footage. These unmanned aerial vehicles are modified for military purposes by adding a few kilograms of explosives (serving as kamikaze weapons) or grenades or bombs (to drop them on the enemy from above). The most well-known Ukrainian constructions of this type are the "Baba Yaga" drones.
Russia's biggest ally: Will it strike in Ukraine?
Andriy Cherniak also noted that Russian forces are considering resuming the offensive on Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv regions. This time, it may be conducted with the support of North Koreans.
"We do not rule out that North Korean soldiers will be involved in these offensive operations," he said.
The HUR representative also reminded that, within the support from North Korea, Russia can also count on vast ammunition supplies and even heavy military equipment. An investigation by the Reuters agency and the Open Source Centre (OSC) reveals that Pyongyang has already delivered about 5.8 million pieces of ammunition to its ally.
