North Korean soldiers will be operating as independent units alongside Russian troops, wearing Russian uniforms, and using equipment supplied by Moscow.
The New York Times cites American and Ukrainian officials who claim that Russia has gathered approximately 50,000 troops in the vicinity of Kursk, for what appears to an imminent offensive.
The operation is aimed at consolidating Russian control over the entire Kursk Oblast. In August last year, Ukraine briefly gained 1,000 square kilometers before losing half of that territory to Russian counteroffensives.
North Korea is said to have deployed over 10,000 soldiers in support of Russian forces. The North Korean troops are expected to operate independently, wearing Russian uniforms and using Russian equipment. US officials claim that Russia has trained the North Korean troops in artillery tactics, infantry tactics and trench warfare.
The New York Times reports that “this training suggests that at the very least some of North Korea’s forces will be involved in a frontal assault on Ukraine’s dug in defensive positions.”
North Korea’s light infantry, without armored vehicles or drones, could suffer significant losses.
North Korea’s military is large, but its troops haven’t engaged in ground combat for decades. The soldiers deployed are North Korea’s elite and come from the 11th Corps which includes special operations forces.
If Russia is successful, it may push beyond its borders, in an attempt to push Ukrainian forces even further back. While it is unclear whether North Korea would authorize its troops to extend operations within Ukraine, US officials have suggested that Pyongyang could limit its forces’ participation in the Kursk Operation, allowing Russian soldiers to advance further into Ukraine.
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