Estonian intelligence assesses chances of DPRK soldiers in war against Ukraine
Photo: DPRK military (Getty Images)
North Korea's involvement in the war against Ukraine is unlikely to significantly alter the battlefield, with North Korean soldiers expected to suffer heavy losses.
This assessment comes from Colonel Ants Kiviselg, head of the Estonian Defense Forces' Intelligence Center, according to ERR.
Kiviselg noted that North Korean soldiers likely arrived in Russia's Kursk region at the beginning of October, where they underwent initial training for two to four weeks before being relocated to the Ukrainian front.
According to him, North Korea is expected to send a total of 10,000–12,000 soldiers to Russia, including 500 officers and three generals.
"The arrival of North Korean soldiers at the Ukrainian front will likely be gradual, with additional North Korean units expected to arrive over the next few weeks," the Estonian intelligence representative suggested.
He added that North Korean soldiers are generally trained for combat in mountainous terrain, meaning they are unfamiliar with Ukraine’s environment, climate, and geography.
"Their training does not prepare them for combat in such conditions, and the training they undergo in Russia is certainly not of a high standard. Therefore, we can expect North Korean units to suffer heavy losses in Ukraine, potentially even greater than those suffered by Russian forces to date," Kiviselg explained.
However, he noted that North Korea might continue to send additional units to Russia and the front in Ukraine. Nonetheless, he believes this will not bring about major changes on the battlefield.
"But if the deployment of North Korean units to Russia, their training, and their arrival on the Ukrainian front continue in the long term, it could potentially bring some changes to the frontline," he added.
North Korea sends troops to Ukraine
It was recently revealed that North Korea has sent soldiers to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that this deployment is part of a "strategic partnership agreement" between Russia and North Korea.
According to Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, North Korean troops are expected to begin fighting against Ukraine in November.
The Financial Times, citing Ukrainian intelligence, reported that 3,000 North Korean troops have already arrived in Russia's Kursk region, located about 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
