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North Korean troops withdraw from Kursk front after heavy losses

Pyongyang’s soldiers, sent in support of Russia, suffer a severe blow in Ukraine. Outdated tactics, field mistakes and coordination difficulties force them into a strategic pause

North Korean troops, deployed alongside Russia in the Kursk region, have temporarily withdrawn from the front line due to heavy losses. This was revealed by a commander of the Ukrainian special forces, known by the code name “Puls,” in an interview with Sky News. According to the commander, this retreat could be a tactical move to reorganize, treat the wounded and prepare for a return to the field.

The deployment of North Korean forces, although never officially confirmed by either Moscow or Pyongyang, is one of the most controversial new developments in the conflict in Ukraine. Estimates from Ukraine and its Western allies speak of some 11,000 soldiers sent by Kim Jong-Un to reinforce Russian infantry, particularly in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise invasion last August and still maintain control of part of the territory.

According to “Puls,” North Korean soldiers have been unprepared for modern battlefield threats, particularly drones and artillery, displaying backward and ineffective tactics. Pyongyang’s military attacked in large groups, as it did during World War II, becoming easy targets for Ukrainian forces. “They attacked on foot in groups of 20, 40 or even 60 men, despite casualties and fallen comrades around them,” the commander said.

In addition, the lack of coordination with Russian forces, compounded by the language barrier, led to incidents on the ground. Radio intercepts reportedly revealed that the North Koreans accidentally hit Russian positions, highlighting further operational difficulties.

However, North Korean soldiers are recognizable by the excellent quality of their uniforms and rifles, which are superior to those of many Russian soldiers. Despite this, they lack heavy armor and proper means of transportation, even using golf carts to transport ammunition. “They are all well groomed and look like models,” Puls noted, ”It is also difficult to determine their age, they seem to be between 25 and 40 years old.

One disturbing aspect reported by the Ukrainian military concerns the extreme discipline and determination of North Korean troops. Pyongyang’s soldiers erase all traces of their presence, recovering the wounded and fallen, and categorically refuse to be captured, going so far as to take their own lives with grenades. One incident reported by “Puls” tells of a soldier who shouted “For General Kim Jong-Un” before making an extreme gesture.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said that some 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded since their involvement in the conflict began. Despite the momentary withdrawal, Kim Jong-Un’s troops will soon return to the field, adapting to the mistakes made in the first bloody clashes, according to “Puls.”

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