A Russian soldier critically evaluated the North Korean Type 73 machine gun, chambered for the 7.62×54 mm caliber, highlighting several limitations of this infantry weapon.
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The video was shared by the columnist Special Kherson Cat on their page on the social network X (formerly Twitter). The footage, apparently filmed at a shooting range, shows an instructor or soldier testing the machine gun.
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Among the main drawbacks highlighted were the weapon’s heavy weight and the inconvenience of its mechanical sights, which make practical use difficult. Due to these disadvantages, the soldier stated a preference to avoid using the Type 73.
Context of the Type 73’s Use by Russian Forces
The use of the North Korean Type 73 machine gun by Russian soldiers became known in November 2024 when these weapons were seen in the hands of Russian soldiers for the first time, rather than in the possession of North Korean contingents.
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At the time, analysts from the Militarny portal suggested that the Type 73 might have been transferred to the North Korean contingent deployed in the combat zone as part of a cooperation agreement between Russia and North Korea (DPRK).
Additionally, experts believe the presence of so-called “exotic” weapons among Russian infantry could be related to familiarization with the arsenal used by their North Korean allies.
Possible Acquisition Agreement
It is possible that the Type 73 machine gun was included in an arms purchase agreement between the DPRK and Russia. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that, despite the availability of these weapons, Russia already possesses its own arsenal of more modern and efficient machine guns, such as the 6P41 “Pecheneg” (PKP) and the PKM and PK Soviet models.
The inclusion of North Korean weapons in combat, therefore, may indicate Russia’s intent to evaluate foreign technologies or strengthen the available arsenal in specific regions.
Photo: X @bayraktar_1love. Source: mil.in.ua. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
