The Koreans have temporarily withdrawn from the battlefield. What was the reason for their exit, and does this pose a threat to the Ukrainian Armed Forces?

North Korean soldiers might have been withdrawn from the Kursk region due to heavy losses. The New York Times, citing sources, reports that the DPRK fighters have not been seen at the front for about two weeks.

Withdrawal of DPRK fighters from the Kursk region: what is known

The media noted that over the past three months, the number of Koreans who came to fight on the side of Russia has halved from 11,000. Specifically, the losses were attributed to disorganization within their ranks and a lack of cohesion with Russian units.

The North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un sent "the best trained" special operation forces from North Korea to Russia; however, the Russians used the soldiers as infantry, deploying them in waves across mine-laden fields.

According to U.S. representatives, the decision to withdraw DPRK troops from the front line may not be permanent. The military could return after additional training or when the Russians find new ways to utilize them to minimize losses.

On January 30, a Ukrainian Armed Forces lieutenant with the callsign "Alex" reported that the situation in the Kursk operational zone has "+- stabilized." Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces are undertaking active offensive actions, while the Koreans have gone quiet.

"The Koreans have also gone quiet for now, not exposing themselves, and there are no infantry clashes to assert their presence," the officer noted.

"Indeed, we haven't seen them for two weeks; we don't see them in maneuvering or attacking actions as part of Russian troops. So, they are likely regrouping to restore the combat capability of those units that have suffered losses. On the other hand, this could be a move by Kim Jong Un in terms of bargaining with Putin," said Oleg Zhdanov.

According to him, North Korean soldiers are a currency that Kim Jong Un is offering to Putin in exchange for something. The expert suggests that this could involve missile technology.

"They were withdrawn for combat capability restoration, as we call it. That is, to replenish, retrain, possibly treat some, and reform certain units. This is likely why they were withdrawn," the analyst explained.

Strength of the DPRK army: main mistakes of the military at the front

Zhdanov noted that the North Korean army consists of about 1.2 million personnel, while the DPRK can mobilize an equal number within a few months. As a result, Kim Jong Un could have around 2.5 million servicemen at his disposal. For Ukraine, 10,000 personnel is significant—equivalent to an infantry division; however, for the Koreans, it is merely a drop in the ocean.

Narozhny pointed out that the DPRK army comprises between one and one and a half million fighters, while the Ukrainian army has approximately 920,000. Additionally, the Korean armed forces have around 4-5 million reservists who can be rapidly mobilized and sent to fight. He is convinced that the DPRK can send several dozen of its soldiers to the war in Ukraine without significant consequences.

Zhdanov stated that it is not feasible to train DPRK fighters in a short period. According to intelligence and military reports, North Korean soldiers do not perceive drone threats.

"It took them several weeks to learn to hide from and shoot them down. They still have not mastered the methods or tactics of modern warfare. They are fighting with tactics from World War II, with units of 20-30 people carrying out assaults or attacks," he explained, adding that at least six months are needed for their retraining.

However, if they return to the front lines now, the situation will remain unchanged. Ukrainian fighters will simply have to eliminate them—which adds extra strain and consumes ammunition. Moreover, the expert believes this may also be one of the reasons for the withdrawal of DPRK fighters from the front.

"The North Korean leadership may have raised concerns with the Russian command that the soldiers were not adequately trained and are merely being used as cannon fodder. This is certainly unsatisfactory for Kim Jong Un because he needs soldiers with real combat experience in modern warfare," Zhdanov concluded.

Narozhny believes that the situation on the front will not change with the return of North Korean troops. He explained that there are about 550,000 to 600,000 Russian soldiers in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, while 10,000 fighters from Korea will not significantly influence the course of events.

"Yes, they are stubborn, indoctrinated fighters who charge into battle without regard for losses. But overall, I wouldn’t say they have a major impact on the situation at the front," said Pavel Narozhny.

The main mistake made by the Koreans at the front was a lack of consolidation. They charged into battle in groups of 50-100, and most did not reach Ukrainian trenches and fortifications because they were destroyed by artillery. A significant number of DPRK fighters were also lost in minefields.

"They do not pay attention to the actions of our drones. When a drone appears in the sky, they do not hide or run away; they simply sit and watch what is happening. A drone flies overhead—okay, the drone dropped a grenade, and a neighboring fighter died—so it was ordered by Kim Jong Un," noted the military analyst.

North Korean soldiers are unaware of what modern warfare entails; they fight using tactics from the 1950s and 1960s. Nevertheless, DPRK fighters, despite their losses, reach Ukrainian trenches where they engage in small arms combat.

"This is a problem because if the Russians were to attack in such a style, they would likely not reach the trenches. They would huddle somewhere and hide. But these soldiers reach and continue to fight," he added.

Recall that on January 27, media reported on the withdrawal of DPRK fighters from the Kursk region. In particular, North Korean soldiers suffered heavy losses due to insufficient awareness of threats from artillery and drones.

On January 28, it became known that North Korean military units resorted to harsh and almost suicidal tactics. According to Western intelligence reports, approximately 4,000 DPRK fighters have already been killed.