Kim Jong-un's soldiers fight differently than the Russians, posing significant challenges for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as summarized in a New York Times article.

North Koreans endure heavy losses but never retreat

North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia in the Kursk region are assaulting Ukrainian positions with minimal support from armored vehicles. Typically, DPRK troops move through mine-laden fields under intense fire and can advance in waves of 40 or more infantrymen, according to Ukrainian military reports.

Russian forces often halt their advance to regroup when they suffer significant casualties. In contrast, Kim Jong Un's soldiers never retreat and continue their assault despite heavy losses. If North Korean stormtroopers capture a position, they do not attempt to hold it. Instead, they leave the seized territory to Russian troops and withdraw, immediately preparing for a new assault.

According to Ukrainian soldiers and American officials, the North Koreans operate as a separate fighting force—distinct from Russian military personnel in terms of language, training, and military culture.

“These are two different armies that have never trained or operated together. Add to that the fact that the Russians do not have much respect for the capabilities and operational norms of their allies. This complicates coordination between the Russian and North Korean armies,” said Celeste Wallander in a comment to the New York Times. She previously served as an assistant to the Secretary of Defense for International Security in the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden.

She noted that the North Korean troops are primarily special forces with a high level of training. However, the Russians mainly use North Koreans as regular infantry.

This week, General Alexander Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that nearly half of the North Korean military sent to the Kursk region are wounded or killed. At the same time, Syrsky warned that Kim Jong Un's soldiers are “highly motivated, well-trained, and brave.”

According to Ukrainian military intelligence, the North Korean forces involved in combat against the Ukrainian Armed Forces include around 500 officers and at least three generals. The latter are stationed at Russian army command posts, where they collaborate with Russian officers to develop assault plans. This information was provided to New York Times journalists by Pentagon representatives.

In the next two months, North Korea plans to send additional troops to Russia. A senior American defense official disclosed this to New York Times journalists on the condition of anonymity.

After several months of intense fighting in the Kursk region, North Korean soldiers have adapted to modern warfare conditions and developed unique tactics. For instance, during an attack by a Ukrainian FPV drone, North Koreans use one of their soldiers as bait so that others can shoot down the drone and continue their advance.

North Koreans are trained not to surrender alive, Ukrainian military personnel say, making it extremely difficult to capture them. Heavily wounded soldiers typically detonate a grenade to avoid capture. They hold the grenade under their chin with one hand and pull the pin when Ukrainians approach.

“If the Russians see that Koreans are being captured, they use drones to finish them off, killing both Koreans and our soldiers,” said Alexey, commander of one of the Ukrainian units.

“Shock Brigade” Tactics

Overall, the Russians find it challenging to integrate North Korean soldiers into their ranks due to the language barrier and differing combat cultures. Problems arise from minor issues, such as finding military uniforms that fit the shorter North Korean soldiers. According to Ukrainian military sources, communication issues have already led to direct clashes between North Korean and Russian troops at least twice.

“Now the Russians have started forming units of North Korean soldiers, which include a translator or someone who speaks Russian over the radio. But this approach is not very effective,” said Andrey, a Ukrainian officer fighting in the Kursk region.

Andrey provided New York Times journalists with drone footage of North Korean soldiers storming Ukrainian positions in early January. The assault occurred at night. The drone's thermal imaging shows North Korean infantry covering about eight kilometers across a snowy field to reach Ukrainian positions. Many perished along the way.

About 50 North Korean soldiers gathered in a forest strip for a further assault on nearby Ukrainian trenches. As seen in the video, some of the assailants were wounded in combat. Despite the losses, they did not retreat. Waiting for reinforcements, the North Koreans continued to advance in small groups of five to eight fighters.

“Despite heavy losses, the North Koreans keep moving forward. They have high motivation and strict discipline. They follow all orders without question,” Andrey told New York Times journalists.

According to South Korean intelligence, North Korean soldiers employ “shock brigade” tactics borrowed from the Korean War of the 1950s. According to this tactic, the offensive should continue despite casualties. This approach results in numerous casualties in a war fought in open, flat terrain dominated by strike drones. Representatives of the South Korean intelligence service state that the North Korean military command considers high casualties an acceptable price for teaching their army modern warfare.

“It feels like North Korean soldiers came here specifically to die, and they know it themselves,” said Alexey, a platoon commander in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Ukrainians Fight Back

North Korea's tactics have forced Ukrainians to adapt. For example, Ukrainian drone operators told American journalists that they usually hunt for clusters of soldiers rather than individual infantrymen, as North Koreans advance in groups and tend to stay clustered together.

Additionally, Ukrainians have changed their approach to mining the terrain. Given the density of North Korean attacks, the standard procedure of placing anti-personnel mines about 15 meters apart is ineffective. Now, according to Ukrainian soldiers, they have to leave no more than five meters between mines.

Unlike the Russians, North Koreans attempt to retrieve their dead and wounded from the battlefield. Ukrainian soldiers note that the North Korean strategy is costly but effective.

“Despite heavy losses, the Koreans are gradually advancing, attacking the least protected positions and exhausting our troops. They are gaining combat experience here and becoming stronger in modern warfare conditions,” said Alexey, a commander of a Ukrainian unit fighting in the Kursk region.

He stated that fighting against one of the world's largest armies is already quite difficult, but battling against two is “on the brink of the possible.” One cannot underestimate the North Koreans, concluded another Ukrainian soldier who has already had to engage in combat against DPRK forces in the Kursk region.