The first clashes between Ukrainian forces and North Korean troops took place in the Kyiv-controlled Kursk region in Russia on October 25, according to sources available to Jonas Ohman, head of the prominent Lithuanian Blue/Yellow NGO.
The organisation has been helping Ukrainian troops since 2014 and has access to first-hand information on the frontlines as well as Ukrainian decision-makers. On several previous occasions, Ohman shared information from his sources in the Ukrainian intelligence and the armed forces that were later officially confirmed.
What do you know about North Korean troops in Ukraine?
We have known for a long time that North Korea is being prepared to play a role in the war against Ukraine. The first indications came six months ago. At that time, the North Koreans were in Belarus, training with some Belarusian units. I can specifically mention the 103rd Belarusian Airborne Brigade.
There were also rumours about their presence in Ukraine, in [occupied] Donetsk. There were a small number of them there – from intelligence officers to engineers who could help the Russians build fortifications, etc. To my knowledge, [the first] Korean was killed in Ukraine a couple of months ago by a drone handed over by Blue/Yellow.
A few weeks ago, we received an alert that they were preparing to go to Russia and that they were being transferred to Vladivostok. At first, it was 1,500, then it was 11,000 to 12,000 troops. To my knowledge, the number could rise to 88,000. This is intelligence information, this is not just data from the street.
The first visual contact between the Ukrainian unit that we are supporting and the North Koreans took place on October 25 in Kursk. [...] All but one of the Koreans were killed, as far as I know. The one who survived had papers saying that he was a Buryat.
Some Ukrainian special units have now been transferred to Kursk. They are being given quite serious equipment and the task is very clear. On the one hand, Ukraine is trying to tell them that if you surrender, we will give you good conditions. On the other hand, if you do not give up, we will hunt you down.
For Ukraine, this change is quite serious, and it wants to show that it can deal with them. At the same time, we at Blue/Yellow feel that the world's reaction has so far been tepid. They are watching cautiously, wondering what to do.
Kursk is likely just an experiment and they will try to see what comes out of it. Presumably, they will now be used as cannon fodder. If they see that there is a result, then they will be integrated with the Russian forces, either in parallel or separately at the company or battalion level.
The first steps are now in place. Russia does not know and we do not know what will happen. Moscow is doing this because it does not want to mobilise more troops, the topic is very sensitive politically. They have now come up with another way to replenish their ranks with North Korea’s help.
How are the Russians coordinating with the North Koreans? After all, they do not speak the same language.
It's quite complicated. We know that there are four bases where North Koreans are transported either by ships or by large Antonov AN-124 aircraft from North Korea. They are then given some training in assault operations and then thrown into the war.
As far as we can hear, the Russian commanders are confused because no one speaks Korean. There was a story about Koreans who were abandoned to their fate. They seem to be a huge headache for the Russians.
They are equipped at least with mortars, I don’t think they have their own artillery. As far as we understand, the Koreans are working with Russian weapons.
Of course, the North Korean military leadership is involved in the war. That involvement is probably small, with soldiers being handed over like slaves. We hear that these soldiers are being warned that if they surrender, their families will suffer.
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