TL;DR:

- The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that a U. S.
- The outcome of this training is shocking on multiple levels. The U.
- This is not a distant concern. North Korean troops, having been deployed to Ukraine for two years, have already mastered drone warfare.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that a U.S. armored unit suffered a decisive defeat during training with Ukraine’s drone forces. The unit involved was part of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, which saw action in the Korean War (1950-53) and the Vietnam War, comprising 3,500 personnel. However, the rapid drone attacks by Ukrainian forces led to the swift annihilation of the armored unit, causing difficulties in conducting the training. The U.S. armored forces, once considered the world’s strongest, were thoroughly humiliated.

The outcome of this training is shocking on multiple levels. The U.S. military did not rely solely on tanks; they received aerial support from helicopters and drones, while infantry units used electronic warfare devices to counter Ukrainian drones. They were ostensibly prepared for anti-drone combat. Yet, the Ukrainian forces—who have engaged in drone warfare against Russia for five years—neutralized the U.S. unit with remarkable coordination.

This is not a distant concern. North Korean troops, having been deployed to Ukraine for two years, have already mastered drone warfare. Within a week, 1,000 personnel reportedly lost their lives to Ukrainian drones, gaining firsthand experience. Many of these troops, now serving as frontline instructors, are sharing their battlefield insights. North Korea, acknowledging its conventional military inferiority to South Korea, has focused on drone warfare for over a decade. With combat experience now under their belt, questions arise about whether South Korea can adequately counter potential provocations. Additionally, North Korea is testing newly developed missiles in Ukraine, validating their performance. There are even projections that North Korea may deploy up to 50,000 additional troops to the Ukraine battlefield soon.

Within the military, discussions have emerged about sending observers to Ukraine for joint training, if not full participation. However, the government shows no inclination to do so. President Lee Jae Myung, during his tenure as Democratic Party leader in 2024, criticized the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s attempt to send a war analysis team to Ukraine, calling it “needless meddling in another country’s war” and asking, “Are you so eager to fight?” The Democratic Party also proposed a special counsel law after the December 3 martial law declaration, including “overseas dispatch to conflict zones” as a subject of investigation.

To make matters worse, South Korean troops recently conducted guard duty without live ammunition in frontline areas. Joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises have also been reduced. What would happen if a military conflict erupted on the Korean Peninsula under these conditions? The mere thought makes one’s hair stand on end.

Source: [https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/08/15/GTXZKJQEUVEXPOMXUG6SLUYDCM/](https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/08/15/GTXZKJQEUVEXPOMXUG6SLUYDCM/)

Editorial: Ukraine's Drone Humiliation of U.S., North Korea's 50,000 Troops, South Korea Refuses Observation