DPRK Military in the War Against Ukraine: Young Men or Elite Special Forces?
30 October 2024 17:26
K. ANALYSIS
North Korean soldiers are approaching the front line between Russia and Ukraine. Among them are many teenagers and young soldiers who seem to be just starting their service. It is noted that the young men have been trained in mountainous conditions, focusing on the tasks of special forces, which is not entirely suitable for combat operations in the plains of Ukraine. The details were analyzed by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to The Wall Street Journal, North Korean troops approaching the front line with Ukraine may not be the best in Kim Jong-un’s army.
The US, South Korea and Ukraine estimate that about three thousand North Korean troops have arrived in Russia this month, and some have already been spotted in the Kursk region, near the border with Ukraine, the newspaper says.
Efficiency and motivation of young military from the DPRK: expert explains
In an exclusive commentary for , Dmytro Snegiryov, co-chair of the Pravova Sprava civil initiative and military analyst, questions the information about the presence of North Korean military in Russia, in particular in the Kursk region. The expert noted that the data published in The Wall Street Journal contradict previous South Korean intelligence reports, which on October 18 reported that 1,500 special forces from the DPRK had been sent to Russia.
“As of today, there is no confirmation of their direct participation in hostilities in the Kursk region. Perhaps there is evidence of their redeployment to the border with Ukraine, but even if the DPRK military has professional training, they lack combat coordination with Russian units,”
– says the expert.
He emphasizes that Russia is using this information to achieve several goals, including creating a zone of instability on the Korean peninsula and putting pressure on South Korea, which supplies military equipment to Ukraine. Russia also wants to demonstratively scale up the theater of operations and create tension that would complicate military and technical support for Ukraine.
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The main problems of the North Korean military
In addition to the lack of combat coordination, the Koreans’ total ignorance of the Russian language is becoming a major obstacle and problem. The military analyst also says that, according to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, “there is only one translator per thirty soldiers, so the issue of communication remains open.”
The expert also draws attention to the difference in information about the preparedness of the Korean military. According to South Korean intelligence, these may be elite units, while other sources claim that they are young men without experience.
“It should be taken into account that 50,000 Russian special forces are currently concentrated in the Kursk region, with practical combat experience and combat coordination. Currently, Ukrainian troops control between 600 and 700 square kilometers, and even with an active counteroffensive by Russian forces, the results remain unsatisfactory,”
– says the analyst.
The expert notes that the North Korean military has no motivation.
“They were brought up in a communist system where obedience to party orders is mandatory. They have been brainwashed, and they have no moral reservations about participating in hostilities,”
– Snegirev summarizes.
In general, we can say that the presence of the DPRK military in the war against Ukraine raises many questions about their motivation. In addition, communication problems can significantly reduce their effectiveness on the battlefield. Russia is likely to use this situation to create additional tension and pressure on Ukraine’s international partners, but the North Koreans themselves may prove to be less useful than Russian commanders hope.
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Author: Darina Glushchenko
