North Korean soldiers will face the wrath of unmanned kamikaze planes for the first time during the war in Ukraine, writes EurAsian Times.
Russian soldiers are now well-acquainted with the sound of drone rotors, which often indicates a threat of attack. But for the North Korean military, recently sent to the front, the encounter with Ukrainian drones can be a real shock.
North Korea's intention to send its soldiers to Putin's war could result in significant losses. The North Korean recruits, who have no real military experience, will face the attack and reconnaissance drones of the Ukrainian forces, which even the Russian units have gradually become accustomed to.
It is symbolic that the Soviet Union once supported North Korea in the Korean War by providing it with weapons and equipment. Now, 70 years later, the situation has changed.
Since October, about 3,000 North Korean soldiers have arrived in Russia. Their frontline mission is expected to be an opportunity to test new equipment and gain invaluable combat experience. Sending North Korean troops to Russia is part of an agreement reached between the leaders of the two countries in June 2024.
The DPRK still uses outdated weapons, mostly Soviet-made, and has minimal experience in conventional armed conflict. Most of the 1.3 million troops are focused on guarding the border with South Korea, and the force has limited training to fight alongside other armies.
Western intelligence has already confirmed that North Korean troops have been sent to Kursk. South Korea intends to send a team to Ukraine to monitor and analyze the deployment of North Korean soldiers who are said to be fighting on the side of Russia, a presidential office official in Seoul said, quoted by Reuters.