North Korean presence in Kursk: Advanced gear unveiled
Ukrainian war correspondent Yuriy Butusov published a video showcasing the equipment of a lieutenant colonel from North Korea who was killed during the fighting in the Kursk region. The Ukrainian correspondent considers the equipment found with the military officer as evidence of the Koreans being well-prepared for combat.
The support Pyongyang provides to Moscow has resulted in several thousand North Korean soldiers being sent to the Kursk region, where they are assisting the Russians in clashes with Ukrainians. Recordings released on social media show that Kim Jong Un’s army employs various tactics, indicating they are better equipped than initially suggested.
Ukrainians showcase the equipment of north koreans
"We see quite high-quality equipment he has. He had two automatic weapons with him at once," noted Yuriy Butusov. According to the Ukrainian correspondent, the heavy combat gear for the North Korean military is possible because they demonstrate "very high" standards of physical fitness.
The North Korean soldier’s equipment included a Vepr-12 shotgun and an AK-12 automatic rifle, both Russian-made. The Vepr-12 likely served as a weapon for fighting drones. There have been reports from the front showing that such rifles are used by Russians and Koreans in attempts to counter Ukrainian drones. The Vepr-12 weighs about 9 pounds and most often uses box magazines with a capacity of 5, 6, or 10 rounds.
North Korean soldiers, in the opinion of Ukrainian military personnel, fare much better with drones, utilizing specific battle tactics—one soldier acts as a decoy while the others (usually two) attempt to lay an ambush and shoot down the drone. This tactic is somewhat effective against larger drones that sometimes remain stationary over a target (before dropping a load) but is much less effective against small FPV drones operating as kamikaze weapons.
The equipment of the North Korean lieutenant colonel also reportedly included documents, a journal (entirely written in Korean), maps, a Chinese radio for communication, and grenades.
Support from north korea for russia
South Korean intelligence reported in January this year that Pyongyang is preparing to send additional soldiers to Russia.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has sent artillery shells with calibers of 122mm and 152mm to Russia. For several months now, it has also been providing ballistic missiles, M1978 Koksan artillery guns, and multiple rocket launchers.
