"Physically and Mentally Stronger North Korean Soldiers Than Russian Troops," Common Assessment from Ukraine and Russian Forces Emerges

Russian POWs Assess North Korean Troops as Superior to Russian Forces
Testimonies Cite Language Barriers and Lack of Interaction Between the Two Sides

Testimonies have emerged indicating that North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia possess superior combat capabilities compared to Russian troops, amid the conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces. On the 16th (local time), Ukrainian media UA Wire reported that Petro Haidachuk, a senior sergeant of the Ukrainian 80th Independent Air Assault Brigade, appeared on the Ukrainian internet broadcast 'EspresoTV' and stated that Russian prisoners of war they captured evaluated the combat readiness of North Korean troops as better than that of Russian forces. Haidachuk explained that although their unit has not yet captured any North Korean soldiers as prisoners, the Russian POWs they have taken were trained alongside North Korean troops.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video showing two captured North Korean soldiers being interrogated in a hospital ward and proposed a prisoner exchange. Zelensky X (X).

Specifically, he said, "Russian prisoners reported that the equipment, weapons, and training level of North Korean soldiers are much better than those of Russian contract soldiers (regular army)," adding, "According to the Russian POWs, North Korean soldiers monopolize assault missions, while Russian soldiers are responsible for securing the area after the North Korean assault succeeds." He also added evaluations from the Russian prisoners.

Haidachuk quoted the Russian POWs, saying, "The North Korean army and Russian army use separate training bases, and there is little interaction between them," and "The assessment that North Korean soldiers generally have superior qualities compared to Russian soldiers also comes from Ukrainian unit members who have directly captured wounded North Korean soldiers." He further explained that due to language barriers, the Russian and North Korean troops live completely separately and do not conduct joint operations except during combat situations.

In the ongoing Battle of Kursk on the Russian front, evidence has been confirmed from the diary of a North Korean soldier killed in action that North Korea deployed soldiers with criminal backgrounds. Provided by the Ukrainian Special Operations Command, Yonhap News Agency.

Ukrainian special forces member Bernard also evaluated North Korean soldiers encountered on the battlefield in an interview with the Ukrainian daily Kyiv Independent, stating they were "very devoted to their beliefs and faithful to discipline and missions." He added, "They said these soldiers are younger, more resilient, and more motivated than Russian troops." Bernard is a member of the Ukrainian special forces who recently captured North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region of Russia. Another Ukrainian soldier, Borsuk, said, "Russians tend to surrender en masse, but North Korean soldiers do not."

Meanwhile, approximately 11,000 North Korean troops are currently deployed in Russia's Kursk region, which is occupied by Ukraine. The National Intelligence Service estimates that North Korean casualties exceed 3,000, including about 300 fatalities, and forecasts that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is considering a visit to Russia in the first half of this year. Among this, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video showing two captured North Korean soldiers being interrogated in a hospital ward and proposed a prisoner exchange.