Disturbing footage emerging from Russia: North Korean soldiers practicing with advanced rifles and grenade launchers.
Fresh Take:
North Korean Troops Learn Tricks of the Trade in Russia
Moscow shared a training video on Monday, revealing North Korean soldiers getting a crash course in modern warfare. They're learning to handle weaponry used in the Ukraine War, such as the AK-12 and other small arms.
The video, posted by the state-run TASS, displays soldiers practicing shooting, clearing trenches, and even training with RPGs and Dragunov sniper rifles. Some even wielded Vepr-12 shotguns, modified to resemble anti-drone weapons.
This isn't your typical North Korean army training — they're adapting to urban warfare, trench warfare, and even anti-drone techniques. And unlike their normal gear, these soldiers were equipped with Russian uniforms and modern equipment, signaling a closer cooperation.
The training comes as speculation swirls about North Korea's involvement in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Reports suggest that around 11,000 North Korean troops were initially deployed, with over 3,000 reinforcements, and that this could be the troops' first foreign conflict under a bilateral defense treaty.
However, it's unclear how prepared these soldiers are. Earlier reports mentioned struggles with explosive drones and heavy losses. But there are signs they're catching on. For instance, a captured North Korean fighter's sketch showed a clever drone trap strategy, suggesting they're learning quickly.
Washington and Seoul have shown concern about this development, fearing North Korean troops might gain valuable combat experience fighting modern weapons and drones. The State Department said that third countries playing a part in the Russia-Ukraine war, like North Korea, share responsibility for it.
Sources:
- Russia Trains North Korean Troops for Possible Ukrainian Battles
- North Korea training troops to fight in Ukraine war shows how Moscow is pressing Pyongyang to help it exhaust last reserves
- North Korea Shows Off Training of Troops in Ukraine War
- Did North Korea Send Troops to Fight in Ukraine and What Does It Mean for the War?
- Russia is Training its Allies, Like North Korea, to Shoot Down Drones with Shotguns
- What about the rifles they're using in their training? Are they learning how to handle SVD sniper rifles and Vepr-12 shotguns, like shown in the videos?
- It seems the North Korean troops, currently learning modern warfare techniques in Russia, are even taking up arms against drones, with the use of RPGs and Dragunov sniper rifles, among other weapons.
- The North Korean soldiers' urban and trench warfare training in Seoul might spark concerns among political figures, considering the potential combat experience they could gain against modern weaponry.
- Despite the contentious politics and war-and-conflicts surrounding North Korea's involvement, these troops are eager to learn and adapt, as demonstrated by their rapidly improving drone-rigging strategies.
