North Korean troops seem to temporarily withdraw from one section of front in Kursk Oblast, military says

North Korean soldiers march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang on Sept. 9, 2018 (Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)
THE KYIV INDEPENDENT Published January 27, 2025

North Korean soldiers appear to have temporarily withdrawn from one of the axes of the front in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, a Special Operations Forces (SOF) spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent on Jan. 27 as Pyongyang’s troops reportedly suffered significant losses.

The statement came after Sky News reported, citing a commander of a detachment of the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center with a callsign “Puls,” that North Korean troops have temporarily withdrawn from the contact line in the embattled Russian region .

Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, a spokesperson of the Special Operations Forces, clarified to the Kyiv Independent that the North Korean troops appear to have had to temporarily withdraw only from one of the axes of Kursk Oblast where the 73rd SOF Center is deployed.

North Korean troops were deployed to Kursk Oblast last fall to support Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion launched in early August 2024. Ukrainian forces have continued fighting in the region, hoping to leverage their positions for potential negotiations.

North Korean forces are taking respite from hostilities, presumably to treat the wounded, wait for reinforcements, and work on mistakes made during the fighting in this sector, according to Sky News.

“Puls” assumed that this break will not last long and the North Korean military “will be back soon.” The soldier also noted North Korean troops’ high motivation and that they continued the offensive despite heavy losses.

North Korean soldiers were unaware of the threats from drones and artillery and attacked on foot in large groups, “like in World War II,” becoming an easy target, “Puls” added.

There is poor coordination and a language barrier between North Korean and Russian troops barrier that has already led to North Korean soldiers targeting Russian positions, according to the Ukrainian military.

Ukrainian forces take DNA samples from killed North Korean soldiers to confirm their participation in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

South Korean intelligence announced at the end of January that Pyongyang was planning to send more troops to Russia to participate in the war.

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, also said previously that Pyongyang is preparing reinforcements, mainly gun and rocket artillery units. The New York Times reported that according to an undisclosed U.S. official, fresh North Korean troops could arrive within two months.

 

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SOURCE: www.kyivindependent.com

RELATED: North Korean forces show signs of temporary frontline pause in Russian Kursk region after heavy losses – Sky News

North Korean soldiers have been observed advancing “like something out of World War Two” in large groups of 20, 40, or even 60 men, making themselves vulnerable to modern drone and artillery attacks.


Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
EUROMAIDAN| Published January 27, 2025

North Korean troops have temporarily pulled back from their frontline positions in Russia’s Kursk region, a Ukrainian special forces commander has revealed in an interview with Sky News. The pause in forward operations comes after the forces sustained heavy losses in recent engagements with Ukrainian forces.

Commander “Puls” of the 1st Combat Divers Battalion of Special Operations Forces emphasizes that this is likely a temporary measure, with North Korean forces expected to return to combat operations soon. “They’re still present, training or waiting for reinforcements. Something is happening, they’ll be back soon,” he said from his secret base in northeastern Ukraine.

Recent battlefield encounters have revealed striking details about North Korean combat behavior. Ukrainian forces report that the North Korean soldiers display remarkable discipline and determination, though often at a fatal cost. Soldiers have been observed advancing “like something out of World War Two” in large groups of 20, 40, or even 60 men, making themselves vulnerable to modern drone and artillery attacks. Despite casualties among their ranks, they continue to push forward in what Ukrainian commanders describe as evidence of “brainwashing.”

Forensic evidence collected from the battlefield provides unique insights into the North Korean deployment. Ukrainian special forces recently conducted a mission to gather DNA samples and documents from approximately 25 North Korean soldiers killed in a drone and artillery barrage. The recovered materials revealed that the soldiers carried only ammunition and chocolate as supplies, notably lacking even water bottles. Personal effects found on the casualties included letters home, photographs of family members, and handwritten notes about their combat experiences.

The North Korean forces stand out for their distinctive appearance and equipment. “They were all clean-shaven and perfectly groomed, like models,” Commander Puls noted, describing troops who appeared to be between 25 and 35 years old. Their equipment is reportedly superior to many Russian units, though they lack heavy armor and rely on golf buggies for ammunition transport.

A particularly notable aspect of their combat behavior is their apparent refusal to be captured. Ukrainian forces report instances of North Korean soldiers using grenades to take their own lives rather than risk capture, with at least one soldier reportedly shouting “For General Kim Jong Un” before his death.

Coordination between North Korean and Russian forces has proven problematic due to language barriers. Ukrainian forces have intercepted communications revealing instances where North Korean units accidentally targeted Russian positions. Additionally, while North Korean troops would storm Ukrainian positions at great cost, Russian forces often failed to exploit these gains.

While neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially confirmed the deployment, Western intelligence sources estimate that North Korea has sent approximately 11,000 troops to support Russian operations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that about 4,000 of these troops have been killed or wounded since their arrival on the battlefield last month.

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SOURCE: www.euromaidanexpress.com

 

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