On Tuesday, Kim Jong Un observed a comprehensive tactical training exercise conducted by the Korean People’s Army at the 60th Training Center of the Capital Defense Corps. U.S. intelligence suggests this unit has close ties to the troops deployed to Ukraine.
The Capital Defense Corps is believed to be part of the 11th Corps, which deployed special forces to Ukraine late last year. Given that the training Kim observed incorporated real combat experience, analysts speculate that the 60th Training Center may serve as a specialized facility for modern warfare tactics.
Footage released by Korean Central Television shows a vast training ground nestled in mountainous terrain. North Korean special forces engaged in various drills, including close-quarters combat, live-fire exercises, and armored maneuvers. Most of the training focused on rapid infiltration and breakthrough tactics, mirroring the combat environment in Ukraine’s Kursk region.
In a significant development, North Korea unveiled what appears to be its first dedicated drone unit. Unmanned aerial vehicles have played a crucial role in the Ukraine conflict. Professor Cho Sung Ryul, a military expert at Kyungnam University, noted that the drone exercises were the most notable aspect of this training. These systems typically require satellite integration, suggesting possible use of Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) positioning system.
Professor Cho added that precision strikes within 30 cm (about 12 inches) to 1 meter (about 39 inches) are possible with military satellite support. Further, noting that just as Ukraine has leveraged U.S. satellite capabilities, North Korean forces may be benefiting from Russian assistance.
Dr. Yang Moo Jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, assessed that Kim’s observation of these exercises likely reflects growing military confidence stemming from the Ukraine deployment. That they’re adapting their training regimen to modern warfare and developing more versatile combat units.
The training introduced a new versatile battalion standard, potentially indicating the formation of units capable of diverse tactical operations. The North Korean Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that a unit under the 11th Corps, the Storm Corps, met this standard. The 11th Corps is a key component of the elite special operations force deployed to Ukraine.
The exact location of the training site remains unclear. A North Korean captive captured in Ukraine in January revealed the existence of a training center in North Hwanghae Province designed to replicate South Korean terrain.
Korean Central Television‘s footage showed Kim’s convoy traversing winding mountain roads to reach the site, suggesting a remote location. While some speculate it could be the previously mentioned facility in Koksan County, analysts note that Koksan’s proximity to Pyongyang of 80 km (about 50 miles) makes it an unlikely base for the Capital Defense Corps.