North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine has been exposed after two North Korean troops were captured. The prisoners, who have not been named, are believed to be among around 300 dead and 2,700 injured soldiers sent by Pyongyang to fight in the conflict.
The North Koreans are facing fierce fighting on both flanks of the Ukrainian-held Kursk pocket, with their units frequently in the vanguard. The region is a crucial battleground in the war, with the Kremlin seeking to annex four Ukrainian regions, including major cities it does not control.
Ukrainian soldiers have described the North Koreans as hopeless fighters sent by Russia on suicide missions, but some others believe they are organised and skilled marksmen who could play a role in future conflicts. The skillset of the North Korean troops is said to be crucial in understanding how warfare has changed, with both sides experimenting with fibre-optic drones that are impervious to electronic counter-measures.
Residents in Ukrainian communities near the Kursk region express fear about their territory’s safety when the operation is over, citing a history of Russian attacks on nearby villages. The situation remains tense, with the Kremlin still maintaining its unchanged war objectives, including annexing Ukrainian regions and vetoing Ukraine’s NATO membership.
The discovery of North Korean troops highlights the increasingly complex nature of modern warfare, where technology plays a crucial role in shaping battles. As Luke Harding noted in his book “Invasion: Russia’s Bloody War and Ukraine’s Fight for Survival,” the war is a battle of technology, with both sides experimenting with new tactics and strategies to gain an advantage.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/18/suicides-new-tactics-and-propaganda-ipads-details-from-captured-north-koreans-expose-new-foe-in-ukraine