“The North Koreans are better equipped than the Russians”

Thousands of North Korean troops are currently engaged alongside Russia. For Ukraine, these units remain difficult to identify with precision. However, it is now clear that they have equipment particularly suited to combat.

Frederike Holewik / t-online

For several months, Ukraine has no longer been facing only Russian troops, but also North Korean soldiers. According to the first clashes reported by Ukrainian soldiers, Kim Jong-un’s army at the front would be particularly well equipped, reports the Washington Post.

Members of the Ukrainian special forces presented to journalists from Washington Post equipment belonging to North Korean soldiers, including a list of Korean and Russian expressions, New Year letters and bulletproof vests. A soldier from the Ukrainian 8th Special Operations Regiment commented:

He even puts forward a hypothesis on this disparity: “Putin wanted to impress the North Koreans” with the equipment he provides them.

A message from Kim Jong-un intended to motivate the troops?

One particularly intriguing document, a handwritten letter, contains a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It reads in particular:

The origin of the letter remains unclear. According to the Washington Postit would have either been sent directly from Pyongyang to the troops, or transcribed by North Korean soldiers after hearing their commanders read aloud Kim Jong-un’s message.

Last week, Ukrainian soldiers also found handwritten lyrics to North Korean patriotic songs in a small book. One of the inscriptions read:

For Ukraine, this means that North Korean troops are significantly more ideologically motivated than their Russian counterparts, to whom Vladimir Putin recently had to offer higher salaries or reduced sentences, according to the Washington Post.

First aid and weapons

In December, the diary of a North Korean soldier was found. He wrote: “I will go to the front and obey the orders of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un without hesitation, even if it costs me my life.”

Among the recent finds of Ukrainian special units were also first aid kits. In a manual called “Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Emergency Medical Care (First Aid), Self-Help First Aid, 2024”, it is explained how to apply a tourniquet.

In addition, Russian military ID cards, body armor, modern Russian assault rifles, a shovel and a Ukrainian knife were found after battles with North Korean troops. Ukraine remains cautious, particularly regarding identity cards, because the information they contain is often falsified: this discovery suggests an attempt to integrate North Korean troops into Russian units under false identities .

Discoveries shed light on soldiers

The seized items constitute a crucial source for the Ukrainian army in its fight against Russia. The presence of North Korean troops could indeed have a significant impact on the outcome of the conflict. However, Ukraine still has little information about these soldiers, as very few North Koreans have been captured so far. On the contrary, testimonies indicate that these soldiers fought to the death or preferred to commit suicide before being taken prisoner.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, up to 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in recent weeks, and only two of them were captured alive. The two injured men were taken to kyiv, where they are currently being questioned and treated for their injuries.

According to the Washington Postrecent discoveries and rare encounters with North Korean fighters paint the picture of a mysterious unit, highly motivated, well organized, well trained and better equipped than Russian infantry. It remains unclear for the moment what impact they will have on the evolution of the conflict.

Until now, North Korean attacks have been limited to the small enclave of the Kursk region in western Russia. However, the troops recently withdrew, which could indicate reorganization or planning for their next moves. Exhaustion and injuries caused by recent offensives could also be the cause.

Translated and adapted by Noëline Flippe