World

North Korean Forces Step Up Involvement in Kursk; Ukraine Braces for Intensified Assault

2024-12-14

Author: Ting

In a startling development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that North Korean infantry are allegedly conducting mass assaults in the Kursk region, an area recently seized by Ukrainian forces during a significant military operation in August. This troubling revelation highlights the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea amidst the escalating conflict in Ukraine.

“We have preliminary data indicating that the Russians have begun deploying a large number of North Korean soldiers for assaults in this strategic zone,” Zelensky stated on social media. “They are integrating these troops into consolidated battle units specifically for operations in Kursk, at least for now.”

Alarming footage has surfaced on social media purporting to show what may be a North Korean-led assault. Captured by a Ukrainian drone, the video illustrates dismounted infantry advancing in organized columns across a wide-open field, seemingly lacking adequate support from armored vehicles, artillery, or aerial coverage.

However, verifying the identity of the troops shown in the footage remains a challenge, cautioned the Estonian analyst known as WarTranslated. “Without indisputable evidence, such as a video of a captured North Korean soldier, it’s premature to validate their involvement,” he expressed, though he acknowledged the credibility of Ukrainian assessments.

In addition, Zelensky pointed out that evidence confirming North Korean casualties could provide more clarity, stating, “There have already been noticeable losses reported among this category of troops, so we might see evidence of that soon.”

As the conflict enters its fourth year, North Korean support has become increasingly crucial to sustaining the Russian military operations in Ukraine, especially in light of escalating Russian casualties. Recent reports indicate that Russian forces have suffered losses exceeding 2,000 troops killed or wounded on several occasions.

Compounding Russia's recruitment challenges, the 12,000 North Korean troops, said to belong to Pyongyang’s 12th Army Corps, are crucial in bridging the gap left by high casualty rates. Moreover, North Korea has not only dispatched these soldiers but has also provided military hardware, including Bulsae-4 missile launchers, M1989 howitzers, M1991 rocket launchers, and vast quantities of artillery shells to support the ongoing aggression.

Reports suggest that North Korean military officers have even been on the ground in Ukraine, potentially facing hostile engagements, as indicated by encounters with Ukrainian cruise missiles.

Currently, North Korean forces appear most concentrated in the Kursk area, a key focus for Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially considering the impending inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, which may herald a new chapter in U.S.-Ukrainian-Russian relations. However, there are concerns that these troops and equipment could soon be deployed across the extensive 800-mile front line to bolster other beleaguered Russian units.

As tensions mount, Zelensky warned, “We have received information suggesting that North Korean resources may also be dispatched to other sections of the front.” With the stakes escalating, the world watches closely as this unprecedented military partnership continues to unfold.