The EurAsian Times: North Korean soldiers to step into drone warfare shock in Ukraine

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, North Korea has supplied Moscow with at least 11,000 containers of ammunition, including approximately 2 million artillery rounds since 2023. Additionally, South Korea’s intelligence reports say Pyongyang has sent 3,000 troops to Russia, with plans to deploy 10,000 by December. The Ukrainian military says that the first North Korean units, after training at Russia’s eastern grounds, have already arrived in Russia’s Kursk Oblast combat zone.

According to The EurAsian Times, Russian soldiers have grown accustomed to the distinct sound of drone rotors, often signaling an imminent attack. However, for the recently deployed North Korean troops, encounters with Ukrainian drones could be a genuine shock. 

North Korea’s aim to provide combat experience for its soldiers might come at a steep cost. On the Russia-Ukraine front, North Korean recruits are likely to face Ukraine’s strike and reconnaissance drones—technology to which even Russian troops had to gradually acclimate.

Ironically, the Soviet Union once supported North Korea in the Korean War, supplying it with weapons and equipment. Seventy years later, the situation has shifted.

It’s important to note that the North Korean troops still rely on outdated Soviet-era weaponry and have limited experience in conventional warfare. Most of its 1.3 million troops are stationed at the South Korean border, with minimal training for operations as part of a combined force.

It’s likely that North Korean units will primarily be assigned to guard rear positions, replacing Russian troops at border posts. This strategy would allow Russia to deploy more of its own soldiers to the front lines, especially crucial as NATO’s support for Ukrainian forces intensifies.