The Washington Post Reveals What North Korean Troops Brought to the Frontlines

Evidence collected from the battlefield reveals what North Korean troops brought with them to fight in Russia’s Kursk region, shedding light on their preparation, tactics, and role in the ongoing Russia’s war against Ukraine.

According to The Washington Post, the items, recovered by Ukrainian special forces, paint a picture of a disciplined and ideologically motivated force, better equipped than Russian infantry but facing significant losses.

Key items found

Ukrainian troops recovered a range of items from the bodies of North Korean soldiers, including:

• Handwritten messages from Kim Jong Un: Two New Year’s letters, dated December 31 and January 1, expressed gratitude for the soldiers’ service. They emphasized loyalty, patriotism, and sacrifice while encouraging the troops to continue fighting far from their homeland.

• A Russian-Korean vocabulary list: A weathered sheet contained key battlefield phrases transliterated into Korean, including commands like “Surrender,” “Resistance is futile,” and “Where are the drones launched from?”

• Advanced equipment: North Korean soldiers carried modern Russian-made AK-12 rifles, high-quality body armor, first aid kits, and military manuals issued by Russia’s Ministry of Defense. These items suggested a deliberate effort by Russia to provide its allies with better equipment than its own troops typically receive.

• Patriotic song lyrics: Booklets containing handwritten North Korean patriotic songs were also found, reinforcing the ideological focus of their deployment.

• Military identification documents: These IDs, issued in Russia, often contained incomplete or falsified information, making it difficult to verify the soldiers’ origins.

Tactical observations

North Korean troops initially moved in large, visible groups, making them easy targets for Ukrainian drones and artillery. However, subsequent engagements showed a rapid adaptation to modern warfare, with troops dispersing into smaller, more strategic units.

“They’re learning quickly and becoming harder to counter,” said Viktor, a Ukrainian special forces commander.

The items they carried suggested significant ideological motivation. While many Russian troops rely on financial contracts, the North Koreans appeared driven by a sense of duty and national pride, as reflected in their handwritten materials.

Earlier, on January 9, Ukrainian forces successfully captured two wounded North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. The detainees, now in Kyiv under the custody of the Ukrainian Security Service.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed the capture of two North Korean soldiers by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. One of the detainees disclosed “significant” losses among North Korean troops, estimating over 100 killed and approximately 1,000 wounded in the last month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that North Korea has already suffered significant losses in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with 4,000 troops reported killed or wounded.