Title: Ovechkin’s Quest for Greatness: Capitals Take on Flames in NHL Showdown
Post:
Get ready hockey fans, as the Washington Capitals face off against the Calgary Flames in a thrilling matchup that promises plenty of excitement on the ice. But the real spotlight will be on the Capitals’ veteran superstar, Alexander Ovechkin, as he continues his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s legendary goal-scoring record.
Ovechkin, known for his lethal shot and scoring prowess, is on a mission to etch his name in the history books by surpassing Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals. With each game that passes, Ovechkin inches closer to this monumental achievement, and fans are eagerly watching to see if he can make history.
Meanwhile, the Flames will be looking to spoil Ovechkin’s pursuit as they aim to secure a crucial victory in their own playoff push. Led by their own standout players, the Flames are sure to provide a tough challenge for the Capitals in what promises to be a high-stakes and intense showdown.
So don’t miss out on the action as Ovechkin and the Capitals take on the Flames in a must-watch NHL clash. Tune in to witness history in the making and see if Ovechkin can continue his relentless pursuit of greatness. Let the game begin! #NHL #Ovechkin #Capitals #Flames #Hockey #Gretzky #RecordBreaker
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NHL, Ovechkin, Gretzky pursuit, Capitals, Flames, hockey, NHL game, Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, NHL match-up, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, NHL news, NHL update, NHL highlights
Title: “Exciting Casting News for ‘Poker Face’ Season 2: Jason Ritter, David Krumholtz & Melanie Lynskey Join the Cast!”
Post:
Get ready for some thrilling new additions to the hit series “Poker Face”! Season 2 is shaping up to be even more exciting with the talented trio of Jason Ritter, David Krumholtz, and Melanie Lynskey joining the cast.
Fans of the show can look forward to seeing these seasoned actors bring their unique talents to the table, adding depth and intrigue to the already captivating storyline. Jason Ritter, known for his versatile performances in both television and film, is sure to bring a dynamic energy to the series. David Krumholtz, with his impressive range and comedic timing, is set to deliver memorable moments on screen. And Melanie Lynskey, a fan-favorite actress with a knack for complex characters, is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats.
With this star-studded lineup, “Poker Face” Season 2 promises to be a must-watch event. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to be entertained by these talented actors as they bring their A-game to the poker table.
Improved post title: “Exciting Matchup: Galatasaray vs Fenerbahçe – Don’t Miss Out on the Action!”
Post: Get ready for a showdown as two Turkish football giants, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, take the field in a highly anticipated match. The rivalry between these two clubs is legendary, and fans can expect an intense battle for supremacy on the pitch.
Galatasaray, with their rich history and passionate fan base, will be looking to secure a crucial victory against their arch-rivals. On the other hand, Fenerbahçe will be determined to come out on top and claim bragging rights in this fiercely contested derby.
With both teams boasting talented players and tactical prowess, this match promises to be a thrilling spectacle for football enthusiasts. So make sure you tune in to witness all the drama and excitement unfold as Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe face off in this epic clash. Don’t miss out on the action – it’s a game you won’t want to miss!
Natural disasters and emergencies can strike at any time, disrupting normal business operations and causing significant financial losses. It is crucial for businesses to have a comprehensive continuity plan in place to ensure that they can continue to operate effectively in the face of such disruptions.
One of the key elements of a business continuity plan is risk assessment. Businesses should identify potential risks and vulnerabilities that could impact their operations, such as flooding, fires, earthquakes, or power outages. By understanding these risks, businesses can develop strategies to mitigate them and minimize the impact on their operations.
Another important aspect of business continuity planning is developing a communication strategy. In the event of a natural disaster or emergency, it is essential to have a plan in place for communicating with employees, customers, suppliers, and other key stakeholders. This may involve setting up alternative communication channels, such as phone trees, email lists, or social media platforms, to ensure that everyone is informed and updated on the situation.
Businesses should also have a plan for remote working in place to ensure that employees can continue to work even if they are unable to access the office. This may involve setting up remote access to company systems, providing employees with laptops or other devices, and establishing protocols for remote communication and collaboration.
In addition, businesses should have a backup plan for critical systems and data. This may involve regularly backing up data to an offsite location, using cloud-based storage solutions, or implementing redundant systems to ensure that operations can continue even in the face of a disaster.
Training and testing are also essential components of a business continuity plan. Employees should be trained on their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster, and regular drills and exercises should be conducted to test the effectiveness of the plan. This will help identify any weaknesses or gaps in the plan and allow for adjustments to be made as needed.
Ultimately, ensuring business continuity in the face of natural disasters and emergencies requires careful planning, preparation, and communication. By taking proactive steps to identify risks, develop strategies to mitigate them, and test the effectiveness of their plan, businesses can minimize the impact of disruptions and continue to operate successfully even in challenging circumstances.
Title: Exciting Matchups at UFC 315: Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena and Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot
Post:
Get ready for an action-packed night at UFC 315 as two highly anticipated matchups take center stage. In the welterweight division, Belal Muhammad will face off against Jack Della Maddalena in what promises to be a thrilling showdown. Both fighters are known for their aggressive fighting styles and determination to come out on top, making this a must-watch battle for MMA fans.
Meanwhile, in the women’s flyweight division, reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko will defend her title against the rising star Manon Fiorot. Shevchenko, known for her precision striking and dominant performances, will be looking to solidify her status as one of the top fighters in the world. On the other hand, Fiorot will be looking to make a statement and prove that she has what it takes to dethrone the champion.
Don’t miss out on these exciting matchups at UFC 315. Tune in to witness the intensity, skill, and heart of these fighters as they go head-to-head in the octagon. It’s sure to be a night full of adrenaline-pumping action and memorable moments that you won’t want to miss.
Pour la troisième fois en un mois et demi, le PSG va se frotter à Monaco. Les Parisiens, leaders incontestés de Ligue 1 avec 10 points d’avance sur l’OM, reçoivent ce soir (21h05) les hommes d’Adi Hütter, écrasés par l’Inter Milan la semaine dernière en C1 (3-0), mais vainqueurs d’Auxerre en L1 (4-2).
La suite après cette publicité
Pour cette rencontre, Luis Enrique pourra s’appuyer sur un groupe presque au complet. Indisponibles ou ménagés face au Mans FC en Coupe de France, Gianluigi Donnarumma, João Neves et Marquinhos sont de retour. Warren Zaïre-Emery, lui, soigne toujours une entorse à la cheville et ne pourra pas répondre à l’appel, tout comme Ibrahim Mbaye. Mayulu est également absent et souffrait hier de maux de ventre.
Le Paris Saint-Germain a annoncé son groupe pour le match de demain contre l’AS Monaco, et il comprend trois retours importants.
Les trois joueurs de retour dans le groupe sont Neymar, Marco Verratti et Mauro Icardi. Leur présence sera certainement un atout pour l’équipe parisienne, qui cherche à maintenir sa place en tête du classement de la Ligue 1.
Neymar a été écarté en raison d’une blessure au genou depuis plusieurs semaines, mais il est désormais prêt à faire son retour sur le terrain. Verratti et Icardi ont également été absents en raison de blessures, mais ils sont maintenant en pleine forme et prêts à contribuer à la victoire de l’équipe.
Avec ces trois retours, le PSG semble être en bonne position pour affronter Monaco et espère obtenir les trois points pour consolider sa position en tête du classement.
Rendez-vous demain pour un match passionnant entre le PSG et Monaco ! Allez Paris ! #PSG #Monaco #Ligue1
Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column in which Nick Wright uses a blend of data and opinion to shed light on need-to-know stories from up and down the Premier League. This week:
Gabriel, Saliba and Haaland to do battle Versatile Gray a bright spot for Spurs Iraola’s defensive innovation A player to watch this weekend
Gabriel, Saliba and Haaland face off again
Erling Haaland telling Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” was the headline-grabbing moment from the fiery exchanges which followed September’s 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. But his battle with Gabriel was where it all started.
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Watch how the explosive finale to Man City’s last meeting with Arsenal unfolded
Haaland could be seen throwing the ball into the back of Gabriel’s head after John Stones’ stoppage-time equaliser, with the pair clashing again from the kick-off. On Sunday, live on Sky Sports, they will renew their “war”, as termed by Gabriel, at the Emirates Stadium.
It’s a battle, a war. It’s normal to have provocative acts in football, it’s part of the game. Now this is over and we are waiting for them at our ground
Haaland scored the opener in that last meeting, racing onto Savinho’s pass and finishing coolly. But few centre-back pairings have made life more difficult for him than Gabriel and William Saliba.
His goal in the September game came after three meetings without even a shot on target, including last season’s Community Shield.
Since the start of last season, Haaland has averaged 0.33 goals per 90 minutes against Arsenal compared 0.91 per 90 minutes against other sides. He has taken fewer shots and those he has taken have registered lower on the expected goals scale.
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Gabriel and Saliba have shown the capacity to stifle him, in other words, as they have so many others. Arsenal have a superior defensive record to any other Premier League side since the start of the 2022/23 season. The importance of their centre-backs is clear.
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Arsenal have conceded an average of only 0.8 goals per game with Gabriel and Saliba starting compared to 1.4 per game without them. The difference in their points per game and win rate is similarly stark, from 2.3 to 1.8 and 73 per cent to 47 per cent respectively.
Even in the context of Arsenal’s difficulties, the pair have been particularly effective this season, limiting opponents to a meagre 0.71 goals per game when starting together, putting them just ahead of Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk on 0.78.
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Of course, they know full well just how devastating Haaland can be.
Manchester City’s Haaland-inspired 4-1 thrashing of Arsenal in April 2023 came with Rob Holding deputising for the injured Saliba but both were present for their 3-1 loss two months earlier, in which Haaland also scored. His goal at the Etihad Stadium in September came when he exploited a gap between them.
Sunday 2nd February 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
Haaland also comes into this meeting in fine form. After a dip between September and December, he has scored six goals in his last seven games. He will be just as fired up as those tasked with stopping him on Sunday. Expect more fireworks to follow.
Gray filling holes for Spurs
Micky van de Ven came through Tottenham’s Europa League win over Elfsborg unscathed on his return to action but an injury to Radu Dragusin, his second-half replacement, means there’s little prospect of Archie Gray getting a rest against Brentford on Sunday.
The 18-year-old has started 14 consecutive games for Spurs amid their injury crisis. The fact he has shone so brightly during a dismal run of form for Ange Postecoglou’s side is even more impressive given the number of roles he has been asked to fulfil.
Image: Archie Gray has played in numerous positions for Spurs this season
Gray started as Spurs’ right-sided centre-back against Elfsborg having played at left-back in their previous two games, against Hoffenheim and Leicester. Before that, against Everton, he started in central midfield, having been their left-sided centre-back against Arsenal only a few days earlier.
The circumstances would be demanding enough for a young player even without the positional changes. But Gray has taken it all in his stride, demonstrating extraordinary versatility and emerging from a torrid run for Spurs with his own reputation enhanced.
Iraola ripping up defensive rulebook
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth host Liverpool on Saturday having extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest. A point off the Champions League spots, they continue to defy the odds, despite a lengthy injury list.
They are doing it with one of the youngest sides in the Premier League this season. But what is really unusual about Bournemouth is that their youthfulness is concentrated in defence.
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At centre-back, a position in which experience and knowhow are traditionally deemed crucial, Iraola is using the 22-year-old Illia Zabarnyi and the 19-year-old Dean Huijsen, a pairing roughly six years younger than the Premier League average this season.
Not that you would know it to watch them. The pair have developed an excellent understanding, displaying a level of assuredness to bely their years. Iraola’s side have only lost one of the 12 Premier League games they have started together and kept clean sheets in five.
Iraola’s preference for youth is not limited to his centre-backs. At left-back, there is the 21-year-old Milos Kerkez. At right-back, Julian Araujo, 23, was generally favoured before his injury, with James Hill, also 23, subsequently emerging as second choice when fit.
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In Huijsen’s case, it is partly a story of circumstance, with Marcos Senesi unavailable due to injury. But it is also a stylistic choice. Iraola’s commitment to throwing bodies forward in attack demands defenders with the dynamism to cope when the ball is turned over.
“There are probably times when we suffer, experience-wise, because a lot of them are very young,” he explained to Sky Sports in an office at the Vitality Stadium in October. “But they give us the ability to defend big spaces and cope with those situations.”
The club have recruited with Iraola’s high-intensity approach in mind, making youth a priority. “You have to play to your strengths,” added Iraola. “That is why it helps to have a young team with players who can play with high energy, in a high rhythm.”
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Jamie Carragher dissects the crucial role of Ryan Christie in Bournemouth’s recent 4-1 win over Newcastle
Carry on like this and it might prove difficult to keep their defensive unit together. Huijsen, a bargain £12.8m signing from Juventus, is sure to attract interest. Kerkez is a reported target for Liverpool.
But don’t expect Iraola to change tack. In fact, in Kerkez’s case, he may already have a successor in place in Julio Soler, the 19-year-old signed from Argentine club Lanus earlier this month. Bournemouth and their head coach continue to do things their own way.
Player Radar: Who else to keep an eye on
Kevin Schade continues to quietly impress for Brentford. The 23-year-old has scored six goals at an average of 0.50 per 90 minutes this season, putting him level with Wolves’ Matheus Cunha and not far behind his team-mate Bryan Mbeumo on 0.61. Spurs beware.
Wolves host Aston Villa in a Black Country derby onSaturday Night Football, with coverage starting on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm ahead of the 5.30pm kick-off.
Super Sunday sees Brentford take on Spurs in the early game, kicking off at 2pm, with Arsenal’s meeting with Man City following at 4.30pm. Coverage of that double-header begins on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event at 1pm.
Don’t miss Monday Night Football as Graham Potter returns to his former club Chelsea with West Ham. Kick-off is at 8pm, with David Jones and Jamie Carragher live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 6.30pm.
Cole Palmer or Phil Foden? The Radar backed the wrong horse for Man City’s meeting with Chelsea! Murillo’s outrageous long shots for Nottingham Forest and Leicester’s struggles were also covered.
In an epic showdown between two young defensive talents and one of the most lethal strikers in the game, Gabriel and William Saliba are set to renew their ‘war’ with Erling Haaland as Arsenal face Manchester City. The Radar is buzzing with anticipation for this clash of titans on the football pitch.
Gabriel and Saliba have been solid pillars at the back for Arsenal, showcasing their defensive prowess and composure under pressure. Their ability to read the game and make crucial interceptions has been a key factor in Arsenal’s success this season.
On the other hand, Erling Haaland has been a scoring machine for Manchester City, terrorizing defenses with his lightning speed and clinical finishing. The Norwegian striker has been unstoppable in front of goal, leading the Premier League in scoring and showing no signs of slowing down.
As these three young stars prepare to face off once again, football fans can expect a thrilling battle filled with intensity, skill, and determination. The Radar will be closely watching as Gabriel and Saliba look to shut down Haaland and lead Arsenal to victory against Manchester City.
Stay tuned for all the updates and analysis on this epic showdown between Gabriel and Saliba against Erling Haaland. The Radar has got you covered with all the latest football news and insights.
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Gabriel Saliba vs William Saliba: Arsenal’s Battle with Erling Haaland
Arsenal vs Man City: The Clash of Titans
Erling Haaland showdown: Gabriel and William Saliba ready for war
Premier League showdown: Arsenal faces Man City in epic battle
Gabriel and William Saliba set to renew rivalry with Erling Haaland
The Radar: Football News – Arsenal vs Man City preview
Gabriel Saliba and William Saliba prepare for epic clash with Erling Haaland and Man City
Arsenal’s defensive duo ready to take on Erling Haaland and Man City
Gabriel and William Saliba gear up for battle against Erling Haaland and Manchester City
Arsenal vs Man City: Gabriel and William Saliba’s showdown with Erling Haaland – The Radar | Football News
The Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball team (15-6, 8-2 ACC) is hosting No. 3 Notre Dame (18-2, 9-0 ACC) to kick off a three-game homestand. This event, known as the Pink Game, raises awareness for breast cancer and honors survivors. The game will take place at the Yum! Center on Sunday at noon, broadcasted on ESPN2. Louisville aims to extend its recent success, having won nine of its last ten games, while Notre Dame enters on a 13-game winning streak.
By the Numbers
Louisville has the 15th toughest schedule nationally.
Notre Dame leads the ACC in assists per game (18.9) and three-point percentage (41.3).
State of Play
Louisville returned home after playing eight games, the fewest among Power 4 teams.
The Cardinals are on a nine-of-ten game winning streak, their strongest run of the season.
Both teams are positioned among the top in the ACC standings, creating high stakes for the matchup.
What’s Next
The Cardinals’ upcoming schedule includes six of their last eight games at home, with three against Top 10 teams. As they aim to solidify their position in the postseason, future matchups may significantly impact their playoff seeding.
Bottom Line
The outcome of this game could serve as a pivotal moment for Louisville’s postseason aspirations, especially given their tough remaining schedule against ranked opponents. The combination of a home-court advantage and community support presents a unique opportunity for the Cardinals.
The Louisville Cardinals are gearing up to face off against the No. 3 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a crucial Pink Game showdown. The game, which will take place at Cardinal Stadium, is not only important for both teams’ standings in the ACC, but also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness for breast cancer research.
The Cardinals, currently sitting at 4-3 on the season, are looking to pull off an upset against the undefeated Fighting Irish. Led by dynamic quarterback Malik Cunningham and a strong defense, Louisville will need to bring their A-game in order to take down one of the top teams in the nation.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, boasts a perfect 7-0 record and is led by Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Jack Coan. The Fighting Irish will look to continue their dominance and solidify their spot as a top contender in the College Football Playoff race.
In addition to the on-field action, both teams will be wearing special pink uniforms and accessories to show their support for breast cancer awareness. The Pink Game serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection and research in the fight against this deadly disease.
With so much on the line, this matchup between the Cardinals and Fighting Irish is sure to be an exciting and hard-fought battle. Be sure to tune in and support both teams as they compete for a crucial win in this Pink Game showdown.
At his pre-match news conference, Guardiola defended Haaland for his “stay humble” comment.
The words have been used against the Norwegian in the months since as rival fans, revelling in City’s troubled campaign, have turned the focus back on him.
Having seen what Haaland has to put up with on a weekly basis in the Premier League, Guardiola is surprised the 24-year-old doesn’t lose his cool more often.
“For Erling it’s not easy,” said Guardiola. “Arsenal is a physical team, in a good way, in many aspects.
“For 90 minutes, the central defender, Gabriel, push him, hack him, hug him and kiss him. The Premier League is that way.
“You have to stand up and defend your position. And now I am being asked to adjudicate on what Erling has done? I don’t buy it.
“The end of the game was so emotional. In the end, a human being has to react.”
Haaland’s disciplinary record is remarkable.
The Norwegian has never been sent off as a City player and has been booked just three times in his past 54 Premier League appearances.
“I’m surprised how he controls his emotions” Guardiola said. “In every action, he’s being pulled and the referee plays on.
“How many times does it happen? And he never complains. He behaves incredibly well.”
Arsenal and Manchester City are set to face off in a highly anticipated match, marking the first time the two rivals have met since Erling Haaland’s controversial ‘stay humble’ comment.
The Borussia Dortmund striker made headlines when he urged Arsenal to remain humble after their impressive run of form earlier in the season. His words were seen as a dig at the Gunners and their fans, sparking a war of words between the two clubs.
Now, as Arsenal and Man City prepare to go head-to-head on the pitch, tensions are running high. Both teams will be looking to secure a crucial victory and gain an edge over their rivals in the race for the top spot in the league.
The match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both sides boasting talented players and a strong desire to come out on top. Will Arsenal be able to prove Haaland wrong and show that they are a force to be reckoned with? Or will Man City continue their dominance and further solidify their position as one of the top teams in the league?
Either way, football fans can expect an exciting and intense battle as these two bitter rivals clash once again. Stay tuned for what promises to be a memorable showdown between Arsenal and Manchester City.
North Korean troops deployed to Russia have proven capable and fierce.
Russia is using them in high-cost “human wave” assaults.
The conflict is an opportunity for North Korea to learn modern warfare tactics and adapt.
North Korea’s soldiers are relentless, almost fanatical, in the face of death. They’re determined and capable in battle, even in an unfamiliar fight, and their tactics are outdated but brutal.
That is what the West has been learning watching Kim Jong Un’s army in action after Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the North Korean leader to supply fighters for his war on Ukraine.
Pyongyang deployed 11,000 men to Kursk in November disguised as Russian soldiers and carrying fake IDs. These troops are largely special operations forces, meaning they are more ardent in their beliefs and better trained than other units.
Russia has been pushing the North Koreans headlong into bloody assaults. The costs are high, but Kim’s army is learning an important lesson in return: how to fight a modern war.
North Korea sent some of its best soldiers
North Korea’s forces fighting in Russia have been training with Moscow on different elements of the war, including how to counter drones.Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File
This war is North Korea’s largest military deployment to a foreign conflict in its almost 80-year history. To determine what the West is learning from this moment, Business Insider spoke to experts who have been closely following North Korea’s performance, examined publicly released intelligence, and reviewed Ukrainians’ observations.
Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services have said that many of the troops that deployed to Russia are some of Pyongyang’s best, drawn from the 11th Corps, also known as the Storm Corps. The unit is trained in infiltration, infrastructure sabotage, and assassinations.
Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, has said the North Korean troops are “highly motivated, well-trained,” and “brave.” And the Pentagon said this month that “these are relatively well-disciplined, competent forces” that are by all accounts “capable.”
Some Ukrainian soldiers have relayed their experiences to Western media, describing the troops as fast and nimble, good shots, and seemingly fearless as they rush into battle despite heavy losses. North Korean soldiers have also been found carrying diaries with written dedications to Kim and their country.
“They, as individuals, are more skilled as soldiers, more disciplined as soldiers, more willing to fight as soldiers than some sources had presumed when they were first being sent there,” said Joseph Bermudez, an expert on North Korea’s armed forces at the Center for International and Strategic Studies.
Ukraine has said the North Korean troops are proving to be capable and fierce foes.Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images
North Korea has a culture driven by a martial philosophy that celebrates hard military power, and it maintains one of the world’s largest standing armies with around 1.2 million soldiers.
The country’s direct entry into the war has complicated the situation for the Ukrainians, particularly in Russia’s Kursk where Ukraine is struggling to hold captured ground. Ukraine has lost roughly half of the territory it once held inside Russia, and the relentless human wave attacks and brutal assaults have worn down Ukraine’s already strained defenses, depriving Kyiv’s forces of time to rest and brace for further attacks.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said last month that North Korea may be planning to deploy additional forces and military equipment to Russia.
Pyongyang has denied sending troops to Russia, and Kyiv has said Russian and North Korean forces attempt to remove dead North Korean soldiers from the battlefield or even burn the faces of dead North Koreans to make them difficult to identify.
Russia is sending North Korean soldiers into bloody assaults
Western assessments have said Russia is wasting both its own soldiers and North Korean troops in massive, devastating assaults.KIM WON JIN/AFP via Getty Images
Russia has been sending the North Korean forces into very high-casualty front-line assaults. Biden’s White House said late last month that “it is clear that Russian and North Korean military leaders are treating these troops as expendable and ordering them on hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses.”
A White House spokesperson previously described the North Koreans as “highly indoctrinated, pushing attacks even when it is clear that those attacks are futile.”
The Trump administration did not respond to a request for comment on its assessment of North Korean forces fighting in Russia.
Ukraine’s Special Operation Forces said Friday the North Koreans fighting for Russia had not been seen in the Kursk area for around three weeks and had likely been withdrawn due to the heavy combat losses. BI was unable to independently confirm these details.
North Korean forces in Ukraine have opted to kill themselves rather than be captured alive.Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
On the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers have said that the North Koreans are a capable fighting force that is adept at neutralizing drones. The soldiers are ruthlessly tough and determined, relentlessly pushing forward in “human wave” assaults, using fellow soldiers as bait, and casting aside armor for faster infantry movements. And they refuse to surrender, often opting to kill themselves with a grenade or bullet rather than be captured.
This is a defining element of the North Korean special operations training: soldiers are trained to follow orders aggressively, even if they suspect it will cost them their lives. If they disobey orders or fail without sacrifice, their families could suffer the consequences, Bermudez said.
North Korea is learning lessons in modern warfare
Despite the war having a high cost, North Korea is learning from its involvement.Kim Won-Jin / AFP
The soldiers “have been observed engaging in light infantry operations of a Second World War vintage — one man draws out enemy fire (in this case, drones) to locate a target, and others attempt to neutralize said target,” said Michael Madden, a Stimson Center Korea expert. They have not prepared for a mechanized battlefield like Ukraine’s, filled with armored vehicles and tanks.
“They’ve been trained to fight a war on the Korean Peninsula,” Bermudez said, and while North Korea has watched various armed conflicts closely over the decades, its forces are now getting a real taste for it on a battlefield and in an environment they haven’t been prepping for.
In the short term, that could have devastating consequences for the North Korean forces fighting for the Russians. The Institute for the Study of War think tank assesses that the entire 11,000-man contingent of North Korean forces could be killed or wounded in action by April if the current casualty rate continues. The latest estimates put losses around 4,000.
Time will tell how North Korea implements what it’s learned from the Ukraine war.Alexander NEMENOV / AFP
North Korea may consider these sacrifices worth it — if not for the Russian cause, then for what it learns in return.
“It is a dark version of the concept of ‘you learn by doing,’” Madden said, noting that it’s still early. “We will need further incidents and engagements to make more sound observations as to whether they are adjusting their tactics given the state of play in Russia and Ukraine.”
But there is no doubt they’re learning, acquiring knowledge critical for future conflicts that will make North Korea a more challenging combat force in East Asia. They’re seeing the Ukrainian use of US- and Western-provided weapons systems, such as HIMARS and Abrams, for example, and how the Russians have adapted to them.
“They’re bringing these lessons home in the hardest way possible: by bleeding for them,” Bermudez said.
Recently, the Western world has been given a chilling glimpse into the ruthless and unwavering determination of North Korean soldiers under the command of Kim Jong Un. As tensions escalate on the Korean peninsula, the world is witnessing the brutal zealotry of these soldiers who are seemingly undeterred in the face of death.
Videos and images have surfaced showing North Korean soldiers engaging in military drills and exercises, displaying a level of discipline and fanaticism that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. These soldiers, indoctrinated from a young age in the ways of the regime, exhibit a fervent loyalty to their leader and a willingness to sacrifice themselves in the name of their cause.
The sight of these soldiers, marching in perfect formation and executing military maneuvers with precision, serves as a stark reminder of the threats posed by the regime in Pyongyang. While the West may have long underestimated the capabilities of North Korea’s military, these recent displays of strength have forced a reevaluation of the situation.
As tensions continue to simmer in the region, the world must remain vigilant in the face of this formidable force. The North Korean soldiers, with their unwavering loyalty and brutal zealotry, are a force to be reckoned with – and one that cannot be underestimated.
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