International-News

North Koreans on the front line in Ukraine: ‘Easy targets’, Ukrainian soldiers say

Ukrainian soldiers describe the inexperience of North Korean soldiers, sent by Kim Jong-un to support Russian troops in the Kursk region

For several weeks now, Ukrainian forces have been facing a new wave of soldiers, this time from North Korea. The soldiers, sent by Kim Jong-un as support for Vladimir Putin, are fighting in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have recently recaptured large territories. Described as inexperienced and unprepared, the North Korean soldiers prove to be ‘easy targets’ for Ukrainian forces.

Inadequate tactics and easy elimination

According to the accounts of the Ukrainian soldiers, the North Koreans advance on open fields without adopting protection or concealment tactics, behaving differently from the Russians, who try to exploit every possible cover to reduce the chances of being hit. The commander of a Ukrainian drone unit, operating under the code name Boxer, said: ‘We had never seen anything like this. Seeing groups of 40-50 soldiers advancing in the open field is a perfect target for artillery and drones’.

The ineffectiveness of North Korean resistance

The testimonies of Ukrainian soldiers also highlight the inexperience of the North Koreans in responding to drone attacks. Artem, a Ukrainian drone operator, recounted observing groups of North Korean soldiers advancing towards the Ukrainian border from Russia, some carrying backpacks loaded with ammunition and others with weapons. Despite the immediate dispatch of bomber drones and other flying units, the North Koreans reacted ineffectively: ‘They shot at the drones instead of hiding or running away. Many were killed’.

An unprepared enemy

The inability of North Korean soldiers to adopt effective defensive tactics was further confirmed by later episodes. During a night operation, Artem used a thermal camera to identify three enemy soldiers, managing to hit all three due to their unresponsiveness. ‘It was like playing a simulator in easy mode,’ said the operator, describing the strangeness of the situation.

A war that exposes tactical differences

The testimonies collected on the ground highlight not only the fragility of the North Korean soldiers, but also the difference in approach and preparation between them and the Russian forces. While the Russians have learnt to move more cautiously, taking advantage of natural shelters and only responding when safe, North Korean soldiers expose themselves dangerously, making themselves easy targets for Ukrainian forces.

THE LATEST NEWS