"One Uses Live Bait, Two Shoot"…North Korean Military Reveals 'Drone Hunting Method' They Drew

Memo from Deceased North Korean Soldier's Notebook Reveals
"Not Sure If This Is Real North Korean Tactics"
Drone Casualties Continue Amid Flat Terrain Human Wave Tactics

North Korean troops deployed in Russia have been found to use a so-called 'human bait' strategy to shoot down Ukrainian drones (unmanned aerial vehicles).

A notebook containing North Korean military's drone countermeasures. Captured from the Ukrainian Special Operations Command Facebook page.

The Ukrainian military revealed a notebook kept by a North Korean soldier who died in Kursk, introducing the North Korean drone hunting method on their Facebook account on the 26th (local time).

According to the Ukrainian military, the North Korean soldier recorded tactics for shooting down Ukrainian drones and hiding from artillery units in the notebook, accompanied by drawings. A Korean note written in blue pen on graph paper states, "When detecting a drone, form a group of three; the person baiting the drone stands 7 meters away, and the shooter is positioned 10 to 12 meters away. If the bait person stands still, the drone will also stop moving," and "at this moment, the shooter eliminates the drone."

Additionally, the North Korean soldier wrote, "If entering the shooting zone, decide on the next meeting point, then split into small groups and exit the shooting zone. Another method is that artillery does not continuously fire at the same spot, so one can hide at a previously hit location and then leave the shooting zone."

The Ukrainian military stated, "We do not know whether this is truly North Korea’s tactic or something taught by Russia," but added, "However, this tactic involves using living bait."

North Korea is estimated to have deployed about 11,000 troops to Kursk Oblast in Russia to support Russia. In this area, which Russia is attempting to recapture, North Korean troops are reportedly suffering significant damage from Ukrainian drones due to the open terrain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 23rd via X (formerly Twitter) that over 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk. The Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) under the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claimed, "The participation of North Korean soldiers is not having a notable impact on the situation."

GUR assessed that North Korean soldiers have little experience in modern warfare, especially with drones, stating, "Their tactics are primitive and, frankly, close to those used during World War II." Ukrainian media report that despite heavy casualties, North Korean troops are continuing to prepare for infantry advances with little change to their existing tactics.