Ukrainian forces have recently reported capturing North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region amid ongoing combat operations. This development coincides with reports that North Korean troops, despite regular strikes from Ukrainian drones, continue to deploy in large assault groups, which has led to significant losses among DPRK forces. This information comes from the latest analysis by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which has highlighted the growing challenges faced by the North Korean military in Ukraine.
According to ISW, Ukrainian forces captured the first North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) in the Kursk region on January 9. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces took one soldier into custody, while airborne assault troops later captured a second. The SBU also revealed that, due to language barriers, the Ukrainian authorities are working closely with South Korean intelligence to communicate with the prisoners, as they do not speak English, Russian, or Ukrainian.
One of the captured soldiers was found carrying a Russian military ID card issued by the Republic of Tuva, a region in Russia, in the fall of 2024. The POW reportedly had only been trained for a week to coordinate with Russian troops before being sent into combat. He was under the impression that he was traveling to Russia for training, not to fight in Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation, noting that Russian or North Korean forces often kill wounded North Korean soldiers to cover up their involvement in the war. Despite the ongoing drone strikes by Ukrainian forces, North Korean troops continue to carry out large-scale assaults, which likely contributes to the high casualty rate among their ranks.
The ISW analysts noted that many North Korean soldiers appear to ignore drone attacks and press forward with their operations, which has led to significant losses. In some instances, Russian forces are following North Korean troops to “stabilize gains.” However, the coordination between the two forces has been described as problematic. Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region have pointed out that communication issues between Russian and North Korean troops may hinder their ability to secure newly gained positions effectively.
In December 2024, North Korean forces reportedly launched an assault with a group of 400 to 500 soldiers, significantly outnumbering the Ukrainian defenders in the region. The ISW also raised concerns about the inability of the DPRK military to learn valuable lessons from this conflict, particularly in terms of countering drone warfare. Analysts suggest that this lack of adaptability could hurt the North Korean military in future engagements.
Further complicating the situation, the ISW highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demand that Ukraine be isolated and that NATO be weakened. Putin has reportedly insisted on these conditions in any potential negotiations to end the war, which would involve preventing Ukraine’s NATO membership and restricting NATO’s military presence in Eastern Europe.
