North Korean troops have marched carrying a Russian flag at a parade in Pyongyang, held to mark the congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of the DPRK, NK News reports. The parade included military personnel who have been fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast against Ukraine.
Under Russian command, North Korean soldiers conduct artillery and multiple rocket launcher (MRL) strikes, as well as aerial reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustment operations.
North Korean troops die 8,000 km away from home
Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says that at least 6,000 North Korean soldiers are missing from this propaganda farce, having died in an illegal war of aggression 8,000 km from home, to which they had no connection.
“Kim Jong Un does not supply this cannon fodder for free. In return, he receives specific and dangerous support from Putin,” Tykhyi adds.
North Korean soldiers become war instructors
North Korean troops who participate in the war return primarily as instructors, spreading skills in modern warfare, artillery, MRLs, and drone operations. This experience, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence reports, increases the threat to regional stability in East Asia.
Focus on drone technology and gaining modern combat experience is one of North Korea’s key objectives in participating in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Their training includes UAV deployment, artillery adjustment, and MRL operations, which could accelerate the development of military technologies in Pyongyang for future use against neighboring countries.
Currently, around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia.
Ran headfirst into a pole at full speed
On 26 December, reports emerged that Ukrainian special forces captured a North Korean soldier. The operation not only resulted in the capture of the soldier but also reportedly led to the seizure of a Russian BTR-82 armored personnel carrier along with weapons and documents.
The prisoner, identified as the first North Korean soldier captured, was reportedly wounded.
Later, Ukraine captured more soldiers, the 95th Air Assault Brigade has reported. One of them ran headfirst into a pole, attempting suicide to avoid captivity. They are not inclined to surrender, retreat as far as possible, and try to hold out. Some Ukrainians recount stories of North Korean soldiers who blew themselves up when they could no longer retreat.
