The tensions on the Russian front not only come from the fighting, but also from the equipment that its soldiers must use. North Korean military aid, including tactical ballistic missiles, artillery systems, ammunition and troops, has arrived in Russia at a time when Moscow is trying to preserve its own reserves for a long war. However, among Pyongyang’s deliveries, light machine guns Type 73 are causing considerable discontent in the Russian ranks, according to .
The Type 73which debuted in 1973, is an old-fashioned model with clear Soviet and Czechoslovakian influences. Although its design may superficially resemble the Soviet PKM or the British Bren, this North Korean machine has proven to be less efficient on the battlefield. With an estimated weight of 15-16 kg, according to a Russian soldier, it far exceeds the PKM’s 9 kg, making it uncomfortable to handle.
Additionally, the top-mounted magazine design complicates the use of iron sights, a detail that has not gone unnoticed by Russian soldiers, who have already expressed frustration at having to deal with an impractical and heavy weapon.
North Korea cleans its warehouses
Why use such a criticized model? The answer seems to lie in Russia’s current needs. With continued losses of equipment on the front, Moscow is turning to external material to fill gaps, while trying to preserve its own more modern arsenal for a conflict that seems to have no end. For North Korea, this is an opportunity to empty its warehouses, handing over weapons that it no longer uses and that allows it to negotiate an exchange of favors with Russia.
However, for Russian soldiers on the ground, the arrival of this equipment seems more of a burden than a solution. Although his complaints have come to light through videos and comments on networks, his opinion will hardly change reality: the Kremlin’s priorities are far from focusing on the comfort of its troops.
Meanwhile, the shipment of material like the Type 73 highlights the difficulties Moscow faces in terms of equipment. As the conflict lengthens, strategic decisions in the use of weapons reflect not only a war of attrition, but also the logistical challenges of a military power that turns to allies like North Korea to keep its lines supplied, even at the cost of the morale of his own soldiers.
