North Korean troops armed with Russian rifles caught in Kursk
Ukrainian operators from special units have captured another group of soldiers from North Korea in the Kursk region. Their equipment is surprising, as one was carrying a modern Russian AK-12 rifle. We present the performance of this final evolution of the famous Kalashnikov.
It is estimated that about 12,000 soldiers from the DPRK have arrived in Russia, which, at the current rate of losses, may last until mid-April. Their attack tactics are primitive, but this does not mean they do not pose a significant threat due to their high motivation.
Elite units have arrived in Ukraine, equipped with the latest DPRK equipment and Russian imports. The second category includes AK-12 rifles, the first photos of which in North Korean hands date back to the end of 2024. Unfortunately, the photo below does not allow us to determine whether the captured specimen is of Russian or North Korean licensed production.
AK-12 rifle - an unsuccessful modernisation of the famous Kalashnikov
AK-12 rifles entered service with the Russian Armed Forces in 2018, mainly to modernise the older AK-74M models to adapt this design to current military requirements.
The original variant, for example, gained new sights, a dorsal rail on the receiver cover, and new polymer handguards with rail sections enabling the use of optical/electro-optical sights, torches, or laser sights.
Additionally, the rifle gained a new folding stock with length adjustment, a flash suppressor that also serves as a compensator became compatible with a sound suppressor, and a two-shot burst mode was added, complicating the selector with a safety.
The weapon was poorly received by soldiers, resulting in several revisions, and the latest version is currently from 2023, designated the AK-12M1. It is worth noting that the specimen seized from the North Korean soldiers is an older AK-12 variant.
In the new variant, the biggest change is the addition of a new additional selector lever with a safety and the elimination of the unnecessary two-shot burst mode, which adds nothing in the case of a rifle with a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute.
Furthermore, the Russians reportedly improved the mounting of the receiver cover so that optical sights mounted on it "hold zero" and do not require re-zeroing each time the weapon is disassembled. The rifle also received a new folding stock equipped with a height-adjustable cheek rest.
Apart from these additions, it is essentially still the same AK-74M rifle, as the operating principle is identical. The new AK-12 is just a bit heavier (about 3.5 kg) and can use new polymer magazines with a transparent window that allows for quick checking of remaining rounds. It is not a weapon that stands out in any special way, and even according to some users, it is worse than the old AK-74M equipped with a Zenitco rail set, which is a popular choice among Spetsnaz soldiers.
