North Korean troops falter in fierce battle with Ukrainians
The Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published a report on the assault by North Korean soldiers on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region. Intense fighting lasted several hours, ultimately ending disastrously for the units supporting the Russians.
In November 2024, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that about 11,000 North Korean soldiers had been deployed in the Russian Kursk region. This is one of the forms of support Pyongyang provides to Moscow.
Despite their numerical superiority over the Ukrainians, many of the North Koreans' assaults fail. The described assault, in which 21 North Korean soldiers were killed and 40 were wounded, clearly demonstrates this.
This is how North Korean soldiers fight against Ukrainians
"The offensive by North Koreans fighting on the side of Russia was held off for over eight hours by the 8th Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, along with friendly infantry, using handheld weapons and grenade launchers. Snipers also played a role," the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces reported.
North Korean soldiers sent to Russia are perceived as "cannon fodder." This is a term used by authorities in Seoul, among others. Ukrainian military personnel are beginning to emphasize, however, that North Koreans are determined and adapting to the realities of the ongoing war. They are not able to overcome limitations such as insufficient equipment. Their possession of modern Russian AK-12 rifles is the exception, not the rule.
The greatest losses inflicted by Ukrainian forces on the North Koreans are achieved with drones and artillery, including systems using cluster munitions with area effects.
Support from North Korea for Russia
Pyongyang supports Moscow in exchange for Russian technological assistance regarding armament and satellite programs.
Initially, military assistance for Russia included significant transfers of artillery ammunition. Over time, North Korean ballistic missiles KN-23 (Hwasong-11A) with a range of about 370 miles and heavy military equipment, including M1989 "Koksan" artillery systems, began reaching Russia.
