North Korean forces face substantial losses in the Kursk region
ISW analysts predict that the entire North Korean contingent in the Kursk region could be eliminated by mid-spring. We present how the Korean soldiers attack and how the Ukrainians defend against them.
According to analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the entire North Korean contingent of about 12,000 soldiers fighting against the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region could be eliminated within the next three months. These forecasts are based on the current rate of losses among North Korean soldiers.
At the beginning of January 2025, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reported that 3,800 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the Kursk region. Data from the South Korean National Intelligence Service indicates that by mid-January, 300 North Korean soldiers had been killed, and 2,700 had been wounded. This means that since the beginning of December 2024, when intense military activities began, the daily losses of North Korean soldiers amount to approximately 92 people.
Fanaticism and tactics reminiscent of World War I — the result is enormous losses
North Korea has deployed about 12,000 soldiers to the Kursk region, and the entire contingent could be eliminated by mid-April 2025 if the current rate of losses persists, according to a report by Unian based on the ISW report. Analysts emphasize that among North Korean forces, there will still be a higher percentage of wounded compared to killed, which is typical for armed conflicts.
As "Forbes" reports, already one-third of the North Korean soldiers sent to the Kursk region have been killed or wounded since their engagement began in December 2024. It is worth noting that the Koreans attack in waves of several dozen or even over 100 soldiers in a very small area, regardless of whether it's forested or open terrain.
This causes massive losses, but as admitted by Ukrainian or foreign soldiers, it is not advisable to underestimate the Koreans. Despite outdated tactics, these are very motivated individuals trained in the use of firearms and the best method is to eliminate them before they can approach Ukrainian fortifications in larger numbers.
Advantage through technology — an effective deterrent against the "human wave" assault of the Koreans
The most effective method of defence for Ukrainians against the mass of North Korean soldiers is the use of drones, especially at night, and artillery equipped with cluster munitions for area effect or projectiles with special fuses that cause explosions in the air.
For example, one M864 155 mm artillery shell contains several dozen small bomblets, each weighing around 300 grams. Some of them are designed to penetrate the upper armour of armoured vehicles, while others are fragmentary variants with an impact area of a few metres. As a result, one projectile can create a death zone covering an area of over 90 square metres.
Mortars and machine grenade launchers are also proving effective, with operators maintaining communication with an observational drone pilot to ensure accurate indirect fire. Particularly useful are shells that detonate approximately 10 metres above the ground, showering the area with thousands of fragments.
One of the more known examples are, for instance, the LMP-2017 mortars from Tarnów used by the Polish military, with MAPAM 60 mm projectiles weighing about 2 kilograms and a declared impact zone of 40 metres from the point of impact, within which everything is showered with a barrage of 2,500 fragments.
