"The Washington Post": What the North Koreans took to war in Ukraine

Interia cooperates with leading editors in the world. all Friday, as part of the "Interia of the Closer World" series, we print the most interesting texts of abroad newspapers. Founded in 1877, The Washington Post, the oldest paper in the United States. Her journalists won the Pulitzer Prize 73 times.

Ukrainian soldiers They usage notes and another items found on the battlefield to better realize thousands North Korean soldierswho have been attacking their supporting positions in fresh weeks Russia as part of her full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

From the items found and relations of Ukrainian soldiers emerges an image North Korean secret troops – whose participation in the fighting has not confirmed nor Moscow neither Pyongyang – highly motivated, organized, well trained and better equipped than Russian infantry. Even if they endure dense losses.

Ukraine it seems more and more eager to gather evidence of the increasing function North Korea in the Russian invasion, which coincides back Donald Trump To the White House. A Republican who met with the leader of the North Korean government respective times during his last word in the White home – Kim Jong Unem – he promised to end the conflict.

The items found are peculiarly crucial due to how hard it was Ukrainian soldiers during fights capture and interrogate North Koreans. Unlike many Russian soldierswho, as the Ukrainians say, are frequently willing to surrender, North Korean military They fought to death or blew themselves up with grenades to avoid capture.

Soldiers of Ukrainian peculiar Forces They showed reporters the Washington Post list of 23 Korean and Russian phrases, together with handwritten New Year's letter originatingfrom Kim, as well as: bulletproof vests, equipment, first aid kits, military IDs, shovel, Ukrainian knife and 2 modern Russian assault rifles recovered in fresh weeks from North Korean soldiers killed.

It seems that Russia, while preparing allies for battle, she decided to give them what was “the best” – assessed 31-year-old Vlad, associate 1st Battalion 8th Regiment of peculiar Operations Forces of Ukrainewhich showed the editors the said equipment and documents.

– The Russians were much worse equipped – said, adding that “they tried to show off before North Koreans‘. Like another Ukrainian soldiers quoted in this article, he spoke on condition that, in accordance with Ukrainian military regulations, only his name would be given.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski He said this period that in fresh weeks as many as 4,000 North Korean soldiers have died or been injured, and only 2 have succeeded in being taken prisoner. Both men suffered injuries and were transported to a detention facility in Kiev, where – as Zelenski said – they are interrogated and treated due to their injuries.

Attacks so far North Korea were restricted to a tiny enclave in western Russian Chicken circuit, which has been under the partial control of Ukrainians since August last year. In fresh days, after weeks of constant attacks, North Korean troops did not appear on the battlefield – Ukrainian soldiers say – even though Russian attacks do not stop.

Theirs. sudden absence may signal that they regroup and plan future movements. It may besides reflect extended military injuries and general exhaustion after fresh attacks.

– They lick wounds," said 25-year-old Vitali, another battalion soldier Special ForcesWho last period participated in an eight-hour shooting with soldiers North Korea.

Two handwritten pages sending messages from Kim Jong Una dated 31 December and 1 January. The papers were translated by The Washington Post.

The origin of letters with fresh Year's wishes and thanks to soldiers for their fight is unclear. They could have stayed sent to soldiers from Pyongyang or written down by North Korean soldierswho listened to their commanders read out loud messages from Kima.

“You have experienced the heartbreaking sacrifices and joys of costly conflict victories, many noble combat experiences, a priceless sense of actual camaraderie and patriotism, all so far distant from home,” says 1 of them. "I can't even find words to encourage and express my gratitude for your dedication and tireless efforts."

“I truly miss you, comrades,” says the letter.

Little book Found with a soldier last week filled with handwritten texts North Korean patriotic songs. "My destiny is always connected with my homeland," 1 of them sounded. The fact that soldiers wore these texts in their pockets during the mission suggests that they are much more ideologically motivated than Russian soldierswho frequently fight on contracts with advanced pay.

When the troops North Korea They first appeared on the battlefield last month, Ukrainian soldiers were stunned that they moved in large groups and did not even effort to hide from Ukrainian drones. Many of them were easy killed in this first phase, but in later battles the fresh arrivals turned out to be ready to fight, physically efficient and skilled marksmen – the Ukrainians report.

In mid-December Vitali along with 8 another soldiers from his battalion was sent to Chicken with 2 tasks: 1 was to stabilise control of Ukrainian positions along the tree line and the another – taken prisoner by a North Korean soldier.

On 1 occasion, during the fight, a 24-year-old Dmytro rapidly made eye contact with North Korean soldiers located just 20 metres distant and fired the shot.

For the next 8 hours North Koreans, dressed in white camouflage uniforms – to blend into the snow – they kept on returning fire. Ukrainians heard 1 clear voice giving orders after Koreanand his speech from time to time became increasingly desperate. They only heard it once. Russian A voice shouting, “Stop! Don't go!’

North Korean troopswhich had previously taken another Ukrainian positions in Chicken circuitThey seemed amazed by the opposition of nine. Ukrainian peculiar forces soldiers and 4 infantry in this position – said soldiers who participated in the battle. But North Koreans fought equally fiercely and aggressively, demonstrating truly advanced War tactics.

Ukrainian soldiers Vitali and 35-year-old Volodymyr yet identified 1 soldier they believed to be able to capture. They shot him, and then Vitali dragged a man to a Ukrainian position where paramedic He's dressing him up. They kept the military alive for 4 hours, hoping to become their first North Korean POW.

But then on the same day Ukrainians retreated, North Koreans They attacked again. During a chaotic escape under fire drones, artillery missiles and artillery shelling killed their prisoner and 1 of the Ukrainian soldiers. "The Washington Post" reporters looked at photographs of the body that soldiers examined and passed on to the Ukrainian authorities.

The body intrigued both local and abroad officials, said soldiers, adding that both Britishand South Korean officials They swabbed for evidence DNA for the presence of North Korean military on the battlefield.

Their group has not since met straight with North Korean soldiers, but – as you can see – they “adjust” to the battlefield, said 30-year-old Viktor, group leader Special Forceswho took part in those fights. “They effort to be smarter, they don’t effort to attack like a flock of sheep anymore”, Viktor said.

Amed Khan, an American philanthropist who straight supports Ukrainian peculiar forces units, showed “The Washington Post” a separate collection North Korean documents. Ukrainian soldiers were to take over in Russian Chicken circuitand were then translated.

The editorial was incapable independentlyverify their authenticity, but they seemed consistent with another North Korean materials we reached and descriptions of battles consistent with independent Ukrainian relations on the behaviour of North Koreans on the front.

Written in Korean notes propose that soldiers North Korea in item note their combat experiences and seem to usage them to better realize new technologies. Ukraine besides warned that Pyongyang uses this “opportunity” to get practical experience on the battlefield before possible future conflicts with the West.

As Viktor suggested, it seems that they besides learn from their mistakes. “In modern war, where real-time designation and drone attacks, no distraction combat teams for smaller units of between 2 and 3 members may lead to crucial losses from hostile drones and artillery," says 1 document.

Some have besides been critically described North Korean soldierswho were about to kill respective Ukrainianstrying to surrender. This would in turn infuriate the opponent and yet "extended the battle". The papers besides show that any North Korean military They repeatedly rushed to rescue injured soldiers, despite the hazard of enemy attacks, resulting in further casualties.

One paper states that any North Korean soldiers were struggling with problems due to the fact that they were not given “key details specified as enemy fortress locations, drone launch positions, or artillery positions, and thus entered the battlefield unprepared”.

As Khan admitted, he hopes US president Donald Trump He will press Pjongjang to retreat from the war and explain to everyone that the death of North Korean military far from home, on the front at the Ukrainian border is no one's business.

Text translated from The Washington Post. Written by Siobhan O’Grady, Serhii Korolchuk

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

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