For months, thousands of North Korean soldiers have been fighting in trenches, dodging artillery fire and fighting side by side with the Russian military in an effort to push Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory. Thanks to report The New York Times learned yesterday that North Korean troops are no longer observed on the territory of Kurshchyna. They haven’t been there for two weeks.
With reference to Ukrainian high-ranking officials Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the withdrawal of North Korean troops from the Kursk region dealt a blow to the calculations of the Russian command, not to mention the fact that this completely nullified the idea of using the military power of the allies to decisively oppose the armed forces of Ukraine.
Forged documents and death oaths
As you know, in October 2024, North Korea sent about 12,000 military personnel to Russia to support Russian forces in the war against Ukraine. These units were deployed in the Kursk region, where they participated in hostilities against Ukrainian troops. At first, North Korean soldiers performed support tasks such as digging trenches and providing logistical support. North Koreans whom the Russian military tried to integrate into their units were given fake Russian surnames to hide their true nationality. This was done in order to increase the number of troops, especially in conditions of lack of resources to fight on the front lines. The presence of the North Koreans allowed Russia to mask their involvement and avoid international condemnation for involving foreign forces in the war.
After engaging in direct hostilities, the North Koreans suffered significant losses. According to Ukrainian officials, almost half of them were wounded or killed.
Because of these losses, North Korean troops were withdrawn from the front line in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian military is not observed of their frontline activity over the past two weeks. According to a representative of Ukrainian intelligence, the withdrawal occurred due to significant losses, but it is expected that after regrouping and possible additional training, they can return to the front. During the hostilities, North Korean units used the tactics of massed infantry attacks without adequate support of armored vehicles and artillery, which resulted in heavy losses. The Ukrainian military noted their endurance and readiness to advance under any circumstances, even suffering significant losses.
In addition, there were problems with coordination between North Korean and Russian units due to the language barrier. It is known about cases of “friendly fire” when North Korean soldiers mistakenly opened fire on Russian troops, which led to additional casualties.
Currently, the situation remains dynamic, and the further deployment of North Korean forces in the conflict will depend on their ability to adapt to the conditions of modern warfare and the effectiveness of interaction with Russian forces.
Tactics that are shockingly brutal
The North Korean military employs deadly and near-suicidal fighting methods that often border on fanaticism. Western intelligence agencies report that many soldiers write “pledges of allegiance” to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before combat, pledging their unconditional loyalty and willingness to die for his regime.
To avoid capture, wounded soldiers detonate grenades under their own chins, leaving no opportunity for capture by enemy forces. This practice shows a deep ideological processing and fear that being captured could be considered as treason to the motherland.
Another terrible tactic is to use wounded or weaker comrades as live bait. It is known that the North Korean military specifically leaves its comrades in the open, forcing Ukrainian forces to use drones for attacks. This allows you to determine the locations of the launch of drones and open fire in return.
In addition, there are numerous reports that some North Korean soldiers remove their body armor and helmets before attacks in order to move faster and increase their mobility during assaults. This shows that their tactics are based on mass attacks, where the survival of an individual soldier does not matter.
Motivation and Role in War
Analysts believe North Korea’s involvement in the war is part of a broader deal between Pyongyang and Moscow in which the Kremlin receives combat power and military equipment in exchange for supplies of food, fuel and technology.
The involvement of North Korean troops on the side of Russia may be a sign of a critical shortage of manpower in the Russian army. However, the use of such extreme tactics also shows the low level of training and equipment of these troops, which leads to significant losses.
While the Ukrainian forces use modern technology, intelligence and smart maneuvers, North Korea professes “living wave” tactics, where the main resource is mass numbers, and not the effectiveness of actions. Such an approach proved to be ineffective in modern warfare, as evidenced by their high losses.
It is worth noting that the participation of North Korean troops in the conflict on the side of Russia causes concern of the international community. The involvement of foreign military units in the war in Ukraine may lead to further escalation and complication of diplomatic efforts to resolve it.
So, the military involvement of North Korea in Russia’s war against Ukraine turned out to be another miscalculation by the Kremlin. Despite fanatical devotion and brutal tactics, the North Korean forces suffered catastrophic losses and were eventually driven from the front lines. This not only disrupted the calculations of the Russian command, but also proved the ineffectiveness of the “living wave” strategy that Pyongyang tried to implement on the battlefield.
The use of North Koreans as cannon fodder shows the lack of manpower in the Russian army. The massive deployment of foreign soldiers to the front instead of its own troops underscores the mobilization crisis and the Kremlin’s reluctance to take responsibility for new losses.
At the same time, this situation will have consequences not only for Ukraine and Russia, but also for global security. North Korea, having gained combat experience, can use it in future conflicts, which causes concern among its neighbors. In addition, North Korea’s open involvement in the war creates new challenges for international diplomacy and sanctions policy.
