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North Koreans gain war experience assisting Russia

10,000 to 12,000 soldiers fighting alongside Russians

By Associated Press
Published: January 12, 2025, 1:11pm
2 Photos
FILE - This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows a military parade to mark the 90th anniversary of North Korea’s army at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 25, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government, and the content cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency.
FILE - This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows a military parade to mark the 90th anniversary of North Korea’s army at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 25, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government, and the content cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) Photo Gallery

KYIV, Ukraine — For weeks, Ukrainian troops braced for an unfamiliar enemy: North Korean soldiers sent to bolster Moscow’s forces after Ukraine launched a lightning-fast incursion and seized territory in Russia’s Kursk region over the summer.

Their arrival marked a new and alarming phase in the war. And while initially inexperienced on the battlefield, North Korean troops have adapted quickly — a development that could have far-reaching consequences as they gain combat knowledge in the war against Ukraine.

Kyiv’s forces were uncertain about what to expect from this new adversary, drawn into the war after Moscow and Pyongyang signed an agreement pledging military assistance using “all means” if either were attacked.

Troops’ competence debated

One Ukrainian soldier who has witnessed North Koreans in battle described them as disciplined and highly methodical, saying they were more professional than their Russian counterparts. The soldier spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

However, other soldiers have shared battlefield drone footage on the Telegram messaging app mocking their tactics as outdated.

Nevertheless, there is consensus among Ukrainian soldiers, military intelligence and others monitoring developments on the ground: While Pyongyang’s troops lacked battlefield experience when they arrived, that has been changing quickly.

With 1.2 million troops, North Korea’s military ranks among the largest standing armies globally. But its post-Korean War foreign engagements have been limited, leaving them inexperienced with modern warfare technologies like drones.

“For the first time in decades, the North Korean army is gaining real military experience,” said Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. “This is a global challenge — not just for Ukraine and Europe, but for the entire world.”

Despite Ukrainian, U.S. and South Korean assertions that Pyongyang has sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to fight in the Kursk border region, Moscow has never publicly acknowledged the North Korean forces.

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