Suicidal Tendencies and 80s Warfare Tactics: How North Korean Soldiers Are Fighting in Ukraine

Exploding grenades under the chin instead of surrendering, using comrades to distract drones, and removing protective gear for speed – this is the combat style of North Korean soldiers deployed in the southern Russian border region of Kursk. These methods, both ruthless and desperate, have become part of a war where modern technology clashes with unprecedented fanaticism, reports NewsBox.

According to Western intelligence, up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia. Within three months, about 4,000 of them have been killed or wounded. Ukrainian military intelligence claims that Moscow is experiencing a shortage of manpower, while Pyongyang prepares new reinforcements.

In one of the videos shared by CNN, a wounded North Korean soldier is seen detonating a grenade near himself, refusing to be captured. His last words reportedly were: "General Kim Jong Un."

Ukrainian fighters, notably a special unit commander with the call sign "Pokemon," described how the adversaries go into battle ignoring calls to surrender.

"They fight to the last, not giving up an inch," he says.

Despite their physical endurance and training, North Korean soldiers find themselves unprepared for the current realities of warfare. The utilization of drones, which dominate the Ukrainian conflict, has presented them with a formidable challenge.

"They fight as if stuck in the 1980s," the commander adds.

The North Koreans conduct mass assaults without regard for losses and lay mine traps in their wake. Some of them deliberately remove bulletproof vests and helmets to move more swiftly and enhance their maneuverability.

"They are extremely fast and agile, hard to catch even with the help of drones," says a company commander with the call sign "Amur."

The hastily-assembled backpacks of the North Koreans suggest minimal concern for survival. They contain almost no warm clothing or water – only ammunition, grenades, and mines.

"Their equipment is more modern than most Russian soldiers, but it's all geared toward offense, not defense," Amur notes.

North Korean soldiers remain a striking example of fanaticism combined with outdated warfare strategies. According to Ukrainian fighters, their methods result in huge losses but also make them opponents that cannot be underestimated.

The scale of North Korea's presence on the front lines reflects growing cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which could significantly alter the dynamics of the conflict as potential peace talks loom.