Russia Details North Korea’s Key Role in Repelling Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive
Eastern Europe and Central Asia , Ground
In a major shift away from their position of ambiguity regarding the participation of North Korean forces in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War, Russian state sources on April 26 confirmed and began to openly praise the role played by personnel from the East Asian state. Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov particularly praised the importance of the North Korean contribution to repelling a Ukrainian offensive into the Kursk Region, stressing their “resilience and heroism.” "I would like to specially mention the participation of the Chosun soldiers in the liberation of the border region of Kursk region, which provided significant support in defeating the Ukrainian army in accordance with the 'Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Companion Relationship (Treaty of the Tactical Companion)' between the two countries… Chosun soldiers and officers performed combat missions shoulder to shoulder with Russian soldiers and demonstrated high professionalism, strength, courage, and heroism in the process of intensifying Ukraine's silence.” "A new chapter has opened in the glorious chronicle of combat brotherhood between Russia and the people of Chosun,” he announced, adding: "The soldiers of the Chosun Army have contributed greatly to liberating Russian land from enemy invaders fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with our soldiers and officers in the same trenches in Kursk region.”
Commenting on North Korean contributions to the war effort, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zaharova observed: “We will never forget our friends." "The unity shown by the friends of Chosun shows that there is a high bilateral relationship and virtually alliance. We are confident that our relationship will continue to strengthen and develop in accordance with the agreement between the leaders of both countries,” she added in an interview. Following this statement, state media outlet RT published the article: “‘Not a single North Korean violated his oath’: How our allies helped us liberate Kursk,” stressing that Korean People’s Army units “showed discipline, coordination and disregard for death, contributing greatly to the defeat of Ukrainian invaders.”
Providing details on the operations of North Korean units in Kursk, Russian state media reported: “At first, they underwent training at military ranges, familiarising themselves with modern combat tactics, mastering drone operation skills, and adapting to field realities. Then, the ‘combat Buryats,’ as our military jokingly and covertly called them, were transferred to the Kursk region. They lived in field conditions to avoid attracting attention. Initially, they held the third line of defence, then the second, and eventually, they were tested in fortifications and, finally, in assaults.” Regarding their performances, it observed: “Korean soldiers distinguished themselves by their coordination, discipline, a fatalist disregard for death, and remarkable endurance. Understandably so – they were mostly young, strong, well-built men, decently trained back home, particularly the units from the Special Operations Forces. They made a significant contribution to the liberation of the Korenevsky District, fought in battles near Staraya and Novaya Sorochina, and broke through to Kurilovka.”
It remains uncertain whether North Korean forces will continue to operate alongside the Russian Army into disputed territories in the Donbas regions. While the Kursk region’s status as a Russian territory is internationally undisputed, which allows North Korea to support Russian efforts to repel an invasion without any legal controversies, fighting in the Donbas would open Pyongyang to the charge of participating in an invasion with a precarious legal status. Although it has not been conceded to by Russian sources, North Korean military equipment has played a central role in facilitating continued operations by the Russian Armed Forces themselves, with the country’s much larger artillery forces allowing them to supply the Russian Army adequately.
As part of efforts its large scale support for the Russian war effort, North Korea was by the end of 2024 estimated to have dispatched over 6 million artillery rounds to Russia. North Korean weapons systems have often had important advantages over their Russian counterparts, with a notable example being the Bulsae-4 anti tank missile system which was first seen in use in the theatre in August 2024, and introduced a very long 10 kilometre range and top attack capability previously not seen on Russian systems of its kind. Footage has also appeared to show the deployment of North Korean Pukkuksong-2 medium range ballistic missile systems in Russia, while KN-23 and KN-24 tactical ballistic missiles, 170mm howitzers, and a range of rocket artillery systems, have all been used widely.
Wakakakaka… indirectly identifying to the world which is the better 捧子 of that N&S.
ReplyDeleteFor those who maintain the idea that military troops that haven't been experienced real war, aint combating soldiers, go eat yr heart out!