North Korean forces adapt and persevere despite heavy losses
Soldiers from North Korea continue to fight in the Kursk region. Ukrainian military expert Sergey Grabski warns they are receiving additional training in Russia, enabling them to handle better weapons used in the Russo-Ukrainian war. He also explains why Kim Jong Un's army is so determined and challenging to demoralize.
Grabski pointed out that the North Koreans have initially been using outdated tactical techniques, which led to very high losses at the beginning of their presence in the Kursk region. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, these losses have already reached about 4,000 soldiers. In their first interview with the media, captured North Korean soldiers admitted they were surprised by the Ukrainians' actions and the weapons used particularly underestimating drones.
North Koreans near Kursk are changing tactics
Stanisław Krasnow, a platoon commander of the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, confirmed during a conversation with the Unian agency that a change in tactics by the North Koreans was noticed in February.
Grabski believes this will become even more apparent in the coming weeks, as additional training will allow North Korean soldiers better to familiarise themselves with the realities of the Russo-Ukrainian war. They are most likely learning how to use selected Russian weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles from the Russians. Among some of the captured or neutralised North Koreans, Ukrainians have previously found firearms, including the Vepr-12 semi-automatic shotgun, likely used against drones, and the AK-12 automatic rifle, which is Russian-made.
The Kursk region is "swarming" with drones. Although Ukrainians have received various types of unmanned aerial vehicles from the West, they primarily base their operations on small FPV (first-person view) drones, which they can produce domestically. North Korean soldiers compete against these constructions—small commercial drones with built-in cameras and attached explosive charges or grenades.
Why is it difficult to demoralise a North Korean soldier?
Grabski also explained the reasons why it is very difficult to demoralise North Korean soldiers.
As he noted, their ranks include representatives of the security services loyal to the authorities in Pyongyang, who closely monitor how soldiers behave on the battlefield and between attacks. Also significant is North Korea's isolation from the world, its propaganda, and concerns for the families left at home.
“We must realise that, in reality, the families of these North Korean soldiers are hostages of the regime, and this explains the desperation with which these people go into battle. This means it is impossible to demoralise them because the DPRK soldiers understand that if they are captured or defect to the Ukrainian side, their families will face severe repercussions," said Grabski, recalling that Kim Jong-un had no scruples in ordering the brutal execution of his uncle and would not hesitate to act against those who are strangers to him.
