North Korean troops bolster Russian drone tactics in Kursk
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, confirmed that North Korean soldiers sent to the Kursk region are being trained by Russians to operate reconnaissance and attack drones.
Kovalenko reported on his Telegram profile that Russian forces are training military personnel and officers from North Korea in advanced combat methods. This training, which is taking place in the Kursk region, involves DPRK soldiers wearing Russian military uniforms and being integrated into Russian units. They are instructed on the operation of FPV and reconnaissance drones and learn the principles behind Lancet usage.
This is how the Russians are teaching the Koreans
According to the head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation, Russia intends to go a step further and send its instructors to North Korea to train local soldiers in drone operation on-site.
Drones have become a symbol of the war in Ukraine and are used extensively by both sides of the conflict. Often, these are small FPV (first-person view) drones functioning similarly to kamikaze weapons. These drones have built-in cameras providing live, real-time views until the moment of impact with a target. Often, these are commercial drones modified for combat by adding explosives. Such equipment can also be reused if, instead of hitting a target, it is used to drop grenades or bombs on it. In Ukraine, even tanks are destroyed in this manner, as confirmed by footage from the front.
The Lancet is a drone specifically designed for military purposes. Although it can conduct observation and reconnaissance missions, in practice, this Russian drone is most often used to destroy Ukrainian positions and equipment. It is a drone with a length of about 1.5 metres and a maximum takeoff weight of 12 kilograms. It can carry an explosive payload of up to about 3 kilograms and move up to 110 kilometres per hour.
Russia's biggest ally
During an interview with the South Korean station KBS, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Rustem Umerov, it was confirmed that the first clashes between Ukrainian forces and North Korean soldiers have already taken place. Umerov suggested that this signified North Korea's formal involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian minister explained that North Korean soldiers are being distributed among various units within the enemy's command system and may be mistakenly identified as Buryats. Therefore, before Ukraine releases exact figures on casualties and captives, it is necessary to verify their identities.
Sending soldiers to Russia is further evidence confirming that North Korea is currently Russia's biggest ally. It has been supporting this country since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, sending considerable quantities of artillery ammunition, including 122mm and 152mm calibres, and even ballistic missiles like the KN‑23, which resemble Russian Iskanders and can attack targets up to about 595 kilometres away.
