North Korean troops train for drone warfare in Russia's Kursk region
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, confirmed that North Korean soldiers sent to the Kursk region are being trained by Russians to operate reconnaissance and attack drones.
7:24 AM EST, November 6, 2024
"The Russians are training military personnel and officers of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) in modern warfare techniques. These will be used in combat. DPRK soldiers are being trained in Russian military uniforms in Russian units in the Kursk region. They are being trained in the use of FPV and reconnaissance drones, as well as being taught the principles of using Lancets," Kovalenko wrote on his profile on Telegram.
This is how the Russians are teaching the Koreans
According to the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, Russia intends to go a step further and send its instructors to North Korea to train local soldiers in drone operation on-site.
Drones have become a symbol of the war in Ukraine and are used extensively by both sides of the conflict. Often, these are small FPV (first-person view) drones functioning similarly to kamikaze weapons. These are drones with built-in cameras providing live, real-time views until the moment of impact with a target. Often, these are commercial drones modified for combat by adding explosives. Such equipment can also be reused if, instead of hitting a target, it is used to drop grenades or bombs on it. In Ukraine, even tanks are destroyed in this manner, as confirmed by footage from the front.
The Lancet is a drone specifically designed for military purposes. Although it can conduct observation and reconnaissance missions, in practice, this Russian drone is most often used to destroy Ukrainian positions and equipment. It is a drone with a length of about 5 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 26 pounds. It can carry an explosive payload of up to about 7 pounds and move at speeds of up to 70 mph.
Russia's biggest ally
During an interview with the South Korean station KBS, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, confirmed that the first clashes have already taken place between Ukrainian forces and North Korean soldiers. Umerov suggested that this is a sign of North Korea's formal involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian minister explained that North Korean soldiers are being distributed among various units within the enemy's command system and may be mistakenly identified as Buryats. Therefore, before Ukraine releases exact figures on casualties and captives, it is necessary to verify their identities.
Sending soldiers to Russia is further evidence confirming that North Korea is currently Russia's biggest ally. It has been supporting this country since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, sending large quantities of artillery ammunition, including 122mm and 152mm calibers, and even ballistic missiles like the KN‑23, which resemble Russian Iskanders and can attack targets up to about 370 miles away.
