"North Korea, Without a Single Shooting Range, Gains 'Combat Experience' in Ukraine"

NYT "Preparing for New Weapons and Modern Warfare"
"First Real Combat in 39 Years Expected," US Also Concerned

Recently, claims have emerged that North Korea has gone beyond providing weapons to Russia and has even sent soldiers, effectively 'participating' in the war. Amid these claims, foreign media reported that this war could offer the North Korean military valuable 'combat experience.'

The New York Times (NYT) cited military experts on the 16th (local time), reporting, "The Ukraine war is providing the North Korean military with something they have long desired: an opportunity to test new weapons and the preparedness of their officers for modern warfare."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the Artillery School again after a month to oversee live-fire training, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the Ukrainian media outlet Kyiv Post, citing sources within its military on the 15th, reported that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to support the Russian military. According to these sources, the Russian military is currently organizing a 'Buryat Special Battalion' composed of North Korean soldiers. This unit is about 3,000 strong and is expected to receive weapons, ammunition, and other supplies. They are reportedly deployed in Kursk Oblast on Russian mainland and may be involved in defensive operations.

If these claims are confirmed, it means North Korea is providing not only weapons but also personnel to Russia. The U.S. military has also expressed concerns that North Korea could gain real combat experience on the European front and strengthen its military capabilities.

On the same day, Charles Flynn, commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, stated during a discussion at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a security think tank, "In my 39 years, I have never heard of the North Korean military receiving feedback on weapons, ammunition, and technology through actual combat," adding, "That is why what they are doing in Europe (the Ukraine war) is concerning."

He emphasized, "North Korea does not have many good shooting ranges, so their training was questionable. Now it is different. If they adjust their weapons, ammunition, and personnel based on feedback from actual battlefields, it is very concerning and requires close attention."

The war between Russia and Ukraine is also emerging as a new 'foreign currency earning method' for North Korea. The NYT reported that North Korea dispatched about 150 workers to the Russian-occupied Donbas region of Ukraine in April. Additionally, the Russian government requested the dispatch of 2,000 North Korean workers. Although Russia's resource economy is struggling due to Western sanctions, Russia remains a much wealthier country than North Korea, which is one of the poorest countries in the world.