The North Korean deployment has divided analysts. Some argue that operational hurdles, language barriers, and differing military practices will hinder their combat effectiveness. Others, however, believe that historical familiarity between the North Koreans and their Russian counterparts will mitigate these issues.
A recent interception, released by Ukrainian intelligence, captures Russian troops in the Kursk region expressing disbelief over how the North Korean soldiers, dubbed the “K Battalion”, will be commanded and equipped.
The soldiers vent their frustrations, using expletives and referring to the North Koreans dismissively as “the Chinese”. One soldier remarks about a fellow serviceman tasked with welcoming the North Koreans, saying, “He’s just standing there with his eyes wide open”.
A handout from South Korean intelligence purportedly showing North Korean personnel at a Russian military facility. Photo: AFP
“They’re already here learning with a translator,” a Russian soldier can be heard saying on the intercept. Reports in the Kyiv Post newspaper indicate a strategy of assigning one translator and three Russian personnel for every 30 North Korean troops.