Why are North Korean troops in the Kursk region, and what is their purpose? An expert provides an explanation.
The Russian Federation has involved North Korean soldiers in its war against Ukraine. This reinforcement is assisting the Russians in their offensive in the Kursk region.
To understand the significance of the DPRK troops, read the article from RBK-Ukraine - "The share of Koreans is only up to 2%. What does the DPRK army provide to Russia and is there any effect on the front?"
According to the article, the reinforcement of several thousand soldiers from North Korea has enabled the Russians to launch an offensive in the Kursk region. The only question is how much the North Korean military is actually helping the Russians. As of mid-December, they are actively involved in assault operations to the north, west, and east of the city of Sudzha.
Military expert Pavel Narozhny believes that the soldiers from North Korea have been heavily influenced by propaganda.
"They are far from their homeland and are not ready to leave the only 'island of safety'," Narozhny explained.
He noted that three generals were sent to command these troops, one of whom was present during our Storm Shadow strike.
"Three generals for two brigades is quite a lot. This indicates that they have come there to learn," the interviewee remarked.
According to him, the primary objective of the North Korean forces is to gain experience in real combat operations in modern warfare. The effectiveness in battles at this stage is very low, particularly due to the language barrier.
"According to reports from Russian military correspondents, they have one translator for 50-100 people. So, if you take two infantry platoons, one goes with a translator, the other goes without. How can you fight like that? Not understanding what is happening on the battlefield, lacking information from drones and other intelligence sources? How to engage in combat in such a format, I have zero understanding," Narozhny explained.
The expert believes that DPRK soldiers will not have any significant impact on the situation on the battlefield.
"These 1.5 km are what the enemy needs to cover to reach our positions. And doing this under constant fire is practically impossible. When 30-40 people advance into an open area, they become targets that will be taken down even by not just drone operators or artillery, but by machine gunners. Yes, the Koreans will learn; this is only the first wave, they will gain experience and then, perhaps, become effective. But for now, they are at the level of ordinary infantry, possibly a bit more motivated," Narozhny added.
DPRK Soldiers in Russia
In South Korea, it is believed that North Korea has sent 3,000 soldiers to Russia. By December, their numbers are expected to rise to 10,000 troops.
At the same time, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin stated that the actions of the DPRK are supposedly covered by the "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement" with North Korea.
According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga, DPRK wants to obtain technology from Russia in exchange for soldiers. This concerns technologies in missile, nuclear, and other military programs.