I will make the strong assumption they will have to contend with the bitter winter, lack of requisite supplies to include food, and WWI tactics. Their morale will go South. There is a good likelihood families of deserting soldiers will be severely punished.

What do North Korean Troops Mean for Ukraine?

CT'97 said:

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What do North Korean Troops Mean for Ukraine?

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That is a great question. The quality of the soldiers will be generally better that the Russian soldiers. I think the Russians will try to use them in somewhat bold offensive operations. However, if they do not have vehicles or requisite vehicles, then I believe they will experience attrition warfare as light infantry. The Russians are poor at maneuver warfare because it is too complex for them for various reasons. The US needs to continue to feed cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Tanker123 said:

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I will make the strong assumption they will have to contend with the bitter winter, lack of requisite supplies to include food, and WWI tactics. Their morale will go South. There is a good likelihood families of deserting soldiers will be severely punished.

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So absolutely no change from their lot in life in North Korea? They will be fine facing those conditions in the Ukraine.

As for their morale, its been south since the day they were born. Hell, they may thrive in the Ukraine as the Russians at least feed and cloth their soldiers to a pretty decent extent.

There is a disparity between N Korea and Ukraine.

That's a link to a video that answers the question.

I will be highly surprised if Russia commits them to combat.

Like 10% chance or less.

What interests me is what will the Reception Staging Onward Integration (RSOI) will the Russians set up for the Norks. What kind of personal equipment, vehicles, and weapons will be issued. What kind of training is prepared and how will they integrate the Norks into Russian operations.

I doubt the Norks are shipping vehicles to Russia. Therefore, if they draw vehicles, then they will not be trained on the vehicles that are weapons systems like tanks and IFVs. I read most of the Norks are in their teens and early 20s. If this is true, then they qualify to become cannon fodder.

The Norks have plenty of Soviet era hardware like what Russia has used in Ukraine. I don't think lack of familiarity with hardware will be an issue.

Although unless any AFV crews have really memorized the switchology, having things labeled in Russian might be an issue.

The assumption is they were trained on combat vehicles.

The russians barely have the time and resources to train their own new recruits -- and these speak Russian and can presumably read.

The Norks have Chinese equipment, not Russian -- and other than things like small arms, they have diverged significantly.

Training, tactical approaches, equipment, language barriers -- dropping 12k Norks into the front would be a logistical and tactical nightmare -- and likely a disaster.

Until something changes, assume this is a publicity stunt.

Trinity Ag said:

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The russians barely have the time and resources to train their own new recruits -- and these speak Russian and can presumably read.

The Norks have Chinese equipment, not Russian -- and other than things like small arms, they have diverged significantly.

Training, tactical approaches, equipment, language barriers -- dropping 12k Norks into the front would be a logistical and tactical nightmare -- and likely a disaster.

Until something changes, assume this is a publicity stunt.

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I could not agree with you more.

https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2024/10/25/what-the-fk-to-do-with-them-russian-troops-not-thrilled-with-north-korean-conscripts-n3796308#google_vignette

Or a way to buy time, keep pressure for one's enemy to use resources while…retrograding and refitting more units. Either way, this has to be a logistical nightmare.

I see nothing that indicates the Norks will deploy their vehicles or other large pieces of equipment. That is a major logistics muscle move that is impossible to hide.

Fly Army 97 said:

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Or a way to buy time, keep pressure for one's enemy to use resources while…retrograding and refitting more units. Either way, this has to be a logistical nightmare.

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Relief in place while in contact is an incredibly difficult operation when the units are well trained, use the same tactics, and speak the same language.

Trying to do with with North Koreans is so insane not even a desperate Putin would order generals who no better to try it.

If you believe most open sources that track this stuff, the Russians have been losing 800-1000 soldiers a day in Ukraine.

The ramifications of 12000 Norks getting massacred in a political stunt are hard to fathom.

apparently, a lot have defected...hope they didnt have family in NK.

I have been thinking about the Nork Reception Staging Onward Integration (RSOI) operations and there is nothing for me to believe the process would be efficient and effective. The Russians can't even feed its soldiers properly. RSOI is too complex for them.

You should really watch the video.

AllTheFishes said:

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You should really watch the video.

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None of the other sources state 12,000 special forces or anything remotely close to that. I firmly believe when they experience the cold winter, lack of proper food, and see how the Russians fight, then morale will go very south. Russian logistics is so poor that it can't feed the soldiers properly. There are reports of soldiers going without food for days. Therefore, I will extrapolate and say the Russian army is incapable of realizing the martial potential of the Norks.

Trinity Ag said:

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Fly Army 97 said:

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Or a way to buy time, keep pressure for one's enemy to use resources while…retrograding and refitting more units. Either way, this has to be a logistical nightmare.

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Relief in place while in contact is an incredibly difficult operation when the units are well training, use the same tactics, and speak the same language.

Trying to do with with North Koreans is so insane not even a desperate Putin would order generals who no better to try it.

If you believe most open sources that track this stuff, the Russians have been losing 800-1000 soldiers a day in Ukraine.

The ramifications of 12000 Norks getting massacred in a political stunt are hard to fathom

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Putin has had enough blunders in this fight, so who can really tell his intent? Assuming they can complete a RIP, I would think that holding a km here and a km there might be sustainable, even if only for a month or so....considering how much the UKR land forces are trying to grow as well, with winter coming. It's about to become muddy and cold. UKR is already slowing down for the winter....time will tell, but if there is a turn in this war to watch, I think it is this one.

Fly Army 97 said:

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Trinity Ag said:

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Fly Army 97 said:

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Or a way to buy time, keep pressure for one's enemy to use resources while…retrograding and refitting more units. Either way, this has to be a logistical nightmare.

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Relief in place while in contact is an incredibly difficult operation when the units are well training, use the same tactics, and speak the same language.

Trying to do with with North Koreans is so insane not even a desperate Putin would order generals who no better to try it.

If you believe most open sources that track this stuff, the Russians have been losing 800-1000 soldiers a day in Ukraine.

The ramifications of 12000 Norks getting massacred in a political stunt are hard to fathom

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Putin has had enough blunders in this fight, so who can really tell his intent? Assuming they can complete a RIP, I would think that holding a km here and a km there might be sustainable, even if only for a month or so....considering how much the UKR land forces are trying to grow as well, with winter coming. It's about to become muddy and cold. UKR is already slowing down for the winter....time will tell, but if there is a turn in this war to watch, I think it is this one.

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Absolutely. Weather and terrain must be accounted for, especially during the winter. The Norks will freeze their asses off.

Reports indicate that North Korean troops sent to the Ukraine war will operate independently on certain fronts rather than under Russian command. This will open up a whole different can of worms. Nork Command structure

They will become cannon fodder because that is how the Russians fight.

North Korean troops in Russian uniforms are heading toward Ukraine, US says

https://apnews.com/article/united-states-north-korea-russia-ukraine-war-faeabb0b2c2ea162bbc6c4691df4d6c8?user_email=38a8e17856d9dcb4ccd25d80bf5ce89872ea46669da00df5309fcde8920f6d7f&utm_medium=Morning_Wire&utm_source=Sailthru_AP&utm_campaign=Election%20Countdown%20Morning%20Wire_31%20Oct_2024&utm_term=Morning%20Wire%20Subscribers

I guess we'll see exactly how they plan to use the NK troops.

I think the bigger question is what did NK get in return for sending troops? I would imagine it's more than a handshake and a thank you.

Facts and Assumptions

Facts:
- Nork forces will be commanded by a Nork general.
- The Nork general will be commanded by a senior Russian general.
- There is a composition of Special Forces and young soldiers.

Assumptions:
- Kim told the Nork general to follow all orders from the Russians.
- Kim sees the Nork soldiers as expendable.
- I don't believe the Nork soldiers have the training and vehicles to become a competent maneuver force.
- Therefore, by default they will be used as cannon fodder.
- Morale will go very south as winter is approaching, they go hungry, are not well resupplied, and see the miserable fate that awaits them.


The US needs to lift all restrictions on US weapons systems. Ukraine's ability to conduct the deep fight opens up huge can of worms for the Russians.

Assumption:
- Russia will not attack a NATO country because he does not want to cross a red line.

Fact:
- The US and NATO have contingency plans should Putin cross the red line.

It really does not make sense to send thousands of elite Nork soldiers to fight in WWI and WWII type of battles to include it would weaken the N Korean military. If I was Kim, I would send the least trained and most expendable Norks as contract laborers and collect their 'salaries".