"North Korean Soldiers Are Being Used as Human Landmine Detectors," Testifies Ukrainian Military

"North Korean Soldiers Refuse Capture and Fight to the Death"

There are claims that North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia are being effectively used as 'human mine detectors.'

Yonhap News cited a report from the British newspaper The Times on the 9th (local time), covering the claims of the Ukrainian military. Recently, Lieutenant Colonel 'Leopard' of Ukraine's 33rd Separate Assault Battalion 'Big Cats' engaged in combat with North Korean troops in the village of Makhnovka, Kursk Oblast, Russia.

North Korean soldiers captured in drone footage released by the Ukrainian military. X capture

Leopard explained the concept of 'human mine detectors,' saying, "Where Ukrainians use mine-clearing vehicles, North Koreans use people." He described, "North Korean soldiers walk in a single line spaced 3 to 4 meters apart; if one line explodes, medical personnel follow to collect the bodies of the deceased, and the process continues sequentially."

He referred to this as the "meat grinder strategy," describing it as the way North Korean troops pass through minefields. He also noted that North Korean commanders did not seem to be disturbed by the loss of life.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 4th that there was a battle in Makhnovka village and that an entire North Korean battalion was annihilated within two days.

Subsequently, on the 7th, a battalion-sized North Korean force advanced again, and the 'Big Cats' along with the 61st Mechanized Brigade launched an operation to retake the village.

Leopard also mentioned that North Korean troops were mixed with Russian forces in a single unit to conceal their identities. He testified that they only used small arms such as North Korean machine guns, grenade launchers, and mortars, and did not use drones. However, he added, "It appears that North Koreans have started learning to use drones," and "If the war prolongs, the likelihood of drone usage will increase."

Suspected North Korean soldier under attack by Ukrainian forces in Kursk, Russia. Screenshot from video released by Ukrainian forces.

Leopard explained that although North Korean soldiers are well-trained and physically healthy, they are assigned guides to help them navigate the unfamiliar weather and terrain.

He testified that his battalion captured one of the Russian guides as a prisoner, but North Korean soldiers refused to be captured alive and fought to the death or tried to escape.

Leopard reported that on the 9th, Ukrainian forces repelled enemy attacks and advanced deep into the village. However, he added that the enemies are regrouping and that the fight to hold the best cards at the peace negotiation table is not over yet.

Meanwhile, the United Nations revealed that more than 12,300 civilians have died in the nearly three-year-long Ukraine war. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), reported these findings at a UN Human Rights Council meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, the previous day.

Evgeny Ustinov, head of the Russian delegation in Geneva, claimed that the report presented by Deputy High Commissioner Al-Nashif contained biased content and asserted that Russia has not targeted Ukrainian civilians since the outbreak of the war.