Despite the drones, North Korean fighters are launching assaults in large groups, according to ISW.

This is stated in the report by the Institute for the Study of War, published on Saturday, January 11.

North Korean Soldiers' Tactics in Kursk

The ISW, analyzing an article from the Washington Post, concluded that North Korean fighters operating in the Kursk region attack in large groups with the support of Russian artillery and drones. In contrast, Russian forces typically move in smaller units. Furthermore, it has been reported that North Korean soldiers continue to advance despite the strikes from Ukrainian defenders using drones. However, as noted by ISW, communication issues between Russian and North Korean forces may hinder the capture of new positions.

The Institute for the Study of War also reports that in December 2024, North Korean fighters initiated an assault with numbers ranging from 400 to 500, which was six times greater than the number of Ukrainian troops. Ultimately, a lack of ammunition forced Ukrainian forces to retreat after an eight-hour battle.

"This indicates that North Korean forces heavily rely on superior troop numbers to advance, despite poor tactics," analysts state.

In the battles in the Kursk region, North Korean forces are suffering significant losses. As previously stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded.

The Institute for the Study of War believes that North Korea will not be able to learn lessons from the combat actions in the Kursk region if the Russian command continues to employ North Korean troops for exhausting infantry assaults. However, the inability or unwillingness of North Korean forces to learn how to counter drones on the battlefield will affect the experience they can gain from the war.

It is worth noting that Russian propagandist Olga Skabeeva complained about the actions of Ukrainian forces. She pointed out that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had captured North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the Defense Forces captured two North Korean soldiers. This occurred in the Kursk region.