In an unexpected turn in the Ukraine conflict, around 10,000 North Korean troops have reportedly arrived in Russia to support Moscow’s struggling forces. While Kim Jong-un hails his soldiers as the “strongest in the world,” their inexperience, poor training, and malnutrition raise questions about their impact on the frontlines. Experts wonder: will they bolster Russian forces or end up as mere cannon fodder?
Unlikely Allies: North Korea Joins Russia’s War Effort
After weeks of speculation, NATO and Pentagon officials confirmed that North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to Russia, with most amassing in Kursk, near Ukraine’s border. US intelligence suggests that the North Korean forces may be deployed within days, adding an unprecedented twist to the protracted conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to take immediate action as his troops prepared to face this “untested enemy.” He warned against “watching passively” as new forces enter the fray. However, while the additional troops may relieve Russia from drafting more citizens, analysts believe the North Koreans might add limited tactical advantage due to their inexperience and lack of familiarity with the terrain.
“This deployment is historic for North Korea,” stated the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank. “They have previously sent advisors and specialists, but never large ground forces.”
The State of Kim Jong-un’s “Strongest Army”
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has touted his troops as the world’s finest, but the reality is far more complicated. Reports reveal that the troops lack combat experience, are poorly trained, and suffer from inadequate nutrition. Most soldiers are young, in their late teens and early 20s, and have only trained in North Korea’s mountainous terrain. Experts worry they are unprepared for Ukraine’s vast, flat battlefields, where tactics and demands differ considerably.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that Russian forces have provided artillery, drones, and basic infantry training, including trench clearing to prepare the North Koreans for frontline operations. Yet, these soldiers, who will wear Russian uniforms, face a daunting challenge. They are unfamiliar with the weaponry and the landscape, and their health conditions may further hinder their effectiveness. Many defectors who have escaped North Korea cite malnutrition, with some soldiers harboring parasites and other illnesses due to inadequate diets.
“Most of them are unlikely to come back home alive,” said Lee Woong-gil, a former Storm Corps member who defected in 2007. “They’ll consider it an honor, but they don’t understand what they’re up against.”
Weapons Supplied but with Limited Training
According to Ukraine’s intelligence agency, Russia has equipped over 7,000 North Korean soldiers with a range of weapons, including 60mm mortars, AK-12 rifles, anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles, and night vision equipment. Despite the significant arming, many analysts question whether such equipment will compensate for the soldiers’ lack of real combat training.
Historically, North Korea has contributed personnel to international conflicts, such as sending pilots to Vietnam and providing military advisors in Egypt during the Yom Kippur War. However, this is the first time the regime has deployed a large ground force abroad, and doubts remain about their effectiveness given the limited training and their status as “third-party soldiers” fighting for Russia.
The North Korean soldiers are thought to include around 500 officers and members of the elite Storm Corps, who are slightly better trained and fed than the average soldier. However, most of the rank-and-file soldiers are underprepared and vulnerable, raising ethical concerns as they may be treated as expendable assets in the conflict.
A Risky Gamble for Kim Jong-un’s Regime
For Kim Jong-un, this deployment is part of a strategic gamble to strengthen ties with Vladimir Putin and potentially gain access to advanced Russian military technology. Reports indicate that a significant portion of the soldiers’ wages will go directly to the North Korean regime, generating a possible hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign currency. This financial boon may support Kim’s nuclear ambitions and fortify his position domestically.
The potential benefits, however, are not without risk. According to Choi Jung-hoon, a former North Korean lieutenant who now leads an activist group in Seoul, “If many of Kim’s soldiers die in Ukraine, it could have major repercussions in North Korea.” Information about heavy casualties may leak through defector networks or South Korean intelligence, possibly destabilizing Kim’s carefully crafted image of an indomitable military force.
Soldiers or Sacrificial Pawns?
As the first contingent of North Korean soldiers readies for deployment, their fate remains uncertain. While Kim may view this alliance as an opportunity to demonstrate loyalty to Putin and secure valuable technology, the reality for these young soldiers is far bleaker. Poorly prepared for Ukraine’s brutal frontlines, many may face an unthinkable end, unable to grasp the true extent of the mission they’ve been sent to fulfill.
For now, the world watches as the situation unfolds, with concern mounting over the ethical implications of sending undertrained, malnourished soldiers into one of the world’s most dangerous conflicts. As one former North Korean soldier put it, “They don’t realize they’re being used as cannon fodder.”
