What does North Korea gain by sending troops to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine?

North Korean troops have been sent to assist Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, with estimates suggesting their numbers are around 10,000 or more (Image: Reuters).

Claiming that North Korea's military is somewhat out of practice would be putting it lightly.

The last significant traditional battle experience for the Korean People's Army (KPA) occurred in 1953 during the Korean War.

For Pyongyang, deploying thousands of soldiers to join the Russian forces in Kursk represents a chance to gain valuable experience.

A report from the US think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), suggests that North Korea's military leaders realize their existing strategies are not suited for contemporary technological warfare, especially when facing a more advanced opponent like South Korea.

North Korean pilots participated in the Vietnam War, and in 1973, Pyongyang dispatched aviators to assist Egypt during the Yom Kippur War.

In 2016, certain militia groups from North Korea were said to have participated in the conflict in Syria, supporting President Bashir al-Assad. However, the current deployment of troops to Russia marks the largest international action North Korea has ever engaged in.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is likely looking forward to its soldiers coming back with skills in contemporary warfare, especially in operating FPV (first-person view) drones and engaging in electronic warfare.

They will also have the chance to evaluate their own and Russia's weapon systems by comparing them to the equipment supplied to Ukraine by the West, to determine their effectiveness.

According to information from Ukrainian intelligence reported by South Korea's Yonhap news agency, North Korean forces have received a range of weaponry. This arsenal includes 60mm mortars, AK-12 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank guided missiles, and grenade launchers designed to counter tanks, along with night vision gear.

According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), they estimate that North Korea has already dispatched 3,000 soldiers to Russia, which includes 1,500 from their Special Forces. They project that by December, the total number of troops sent will reach 10,000.

The group is thought to consist of 500 officers and a minimum of three generals.

Reports indicate that the soldiers are receiving a monthly salary of $2,000, totaling approximately $200 million annually. However, it is likely that this money will end up in Pyongyang rather than benefiting the troops directly.

In October, South Korean network TV Chosun reported that North Korea had dispatched an undisclosed number of fighter pilots to Vladivostok.

North Korean pilots receive training on Russian Su-25 attack planes and might have the chance to acquire valuable combat experience by flying these aircraft on missions in Ukraine.

North Korea's top leader, Kim Jong Un, is likely optimistic that his growing friendship with Vladimir Putin will yield advantages that extend beyond military matters.

Experts believe he is looking to strengthen ties with Russia in the hopes of gaining support from Moscow if there is ever a resurgence of conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Pyongyang might leverage its strengthened ties with Moscow to ease Beijing's influence over them.

China accounts for 90% of North Korea's trade, supplying most of its food assistance and all of its crude oil.

As a result, it exerts political influence and has curtailed Kim Jong Un's aspirations for nuclear weaponry.

There are concerns that Moscow won't play a limiting role and might even end up indirectly backing North Korea's nuclear weapons development. This action could create instability across the entire Asia-Pacific area.

It's obvious that Russia stands to benefit from this agreement.

Ukraine claims that it thinks Moscow has sent around 50,000 troops from different parts of the frontline to Kursk in an effort to halt Kyiv's unexpected summer offensive.

The deployment of four North Korean brigades could make it possible for those forces to be redirected to eastern Ukraine.

This will also allow Vladimir Putin to postpone initiating another unpopular mobilization effort.

The key concern is how effectively the North Korean soldiers will carry out their duties and how the Russian army plans to utilize them.

The soldiers being deployed are reportedly quite young, with some of them still in their teenage years.

They have also received training in the mountainous regions of North Korea and lack experience in the expansive, open battlefields of Ukraine.

There are communication challenges as well, with reports indicating that Moscow is providing just one interpreter for every 30 North Korean soldiers.

If Russia employs them in what they call 'meat assaults' in Kursk, a significant number of them could be killed or wounded, which could lead to Kim Jong Un's foreign initiative becoming a catastrophic failure.