Reports from Russia have indicated that three supporting North Korean soldiers have killed five Russian soldiers in the Kursk region of Russia and are currently on the run. The Russian authorities have included them in their wanted list.
According to the Russian military channel “Spy Dossier” on the social media platform Telegram, the three armed and dangerous North Korean soldiers have been officially sought after for the incident where they allegedly killed the Russian soldiers.
The incident took place on January 13th in Bolshoye Soldatskoye in the Kursk region, where the three North Korean soldiers reportedly killed five soldiers from the 810th Separate Marine Brigade of the Russian Navy based in Sevastopol.
The 810th Separate Marine Brigade has been engaged in intense combat in the Kursk region. Ukrainian intelligence and media sources have indicated that the brigade includes mixed North Korean soldiers.
The Russian military channel’s post described the fugitives as armed and dangerous, urging anyone with relevant information to report to the Internal Affairs Department of the Kursk region and to take necessary precautions for personal safety.
Despite ongoing search efforts by the authorities, the perpetrators remain at large a week after the incident. The information, obtained from reliable sources, is yet to be fully confirmed.
While the Russian authorities have not provided an official explanation for the event, some Russian military bloggers suggest that the incident resulted from miscommunication between North Korean and Russian troops.
According to the Defense Intelligence Agency of Ukraine, language barriers between North Korean and Russian soldiers have posed challenges in command and coordination, leading to incidents such as the reported casualties.
A previous incident where North Korean soldiers mistakenly fired upon Kadyrovites, resulting in casualties, was cited as an example of the difficulties stemming from language barriers between the forces.
Testimonies from captured Russian soldiers attested to the separation of North Korean and Russian soldiers due to language barriers. Reports also mentioned complaints from North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region about insufficient supplies.
Efforts have been made to address the issue, with a senior Russian officer visiting the frontline in Kursk and ordering rations to be distributed to North Korean soldiers from the 11th Air Assault Brigade’s supplies.
In addition, the Ukrainian military disclosed that North Korean soldiers are facing challenges such as shortages in resources, inadequate supplies, and outdated weaponry.
A sergeant from the 8th Special Operations Forces Regiment of Ukraine, Mykhailo Makaruk, recounted the discovery of low-quality grenades and medical kits in the uniforms of deceased North Korean soldiers during search operations in the Kursk region.
The extent of casualties among North Korean soldiers remains disputed, with Ukrainian military sources estimating around 3,800 casualties, while South Korean authorities reported over 300 fatalities and approximately 2,700 injuries on January 13th.