SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has deployed thousands of young soldiers to Russia, reportedly to assist in the ongoing fight against Ukraine. Among these troops are many elite special forces; however, concerns are growing regarding their survival, as they lack combat experience, are unfamiliar with the terrain, and are likely to be placed on the most intense battlefields.
Some of these troops are already believed to have reached the front lines. Yet, from a North Korean perspective, these soldiers may not be as disheartened as outsiders presume. They could view their mission in Russia with a sense of pride, considering it a rare opportunity to earn money, visit a foreign country for the first time, and secure better treatment for their families back home, according to former North Korean military personnel.
“They are young and may not fully grasp the implications of their deployment,” explained Lee Woong-gil, a former member of the elite Storm Corps who defected to South Korea in 2007. “They will likely see it as an honor to be chosen for this mission among many soldiers. However, I fear most of them won’t return home alive.”
Kim’s Risky Strategy
On Monday, NATO confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia, where they have been sent to bolster its nearly three-year conflict with Ukraine. Some of these soldiers are reportedly stationed in Russia’s Kursk border region, where Russian forces are struggling to repel Ukrainian advances.
The Pentagon recently highlighted North Korea’s troop deployment, stating that approximately 10,000 soldiers have been dispatched to Russia, and they are expected to engage in combat against Ukraine in the coming weeks. South Korea’s presidential office noted that over 3,000 North Korean troops have been relocated near the western battlefronts of Russia.
This troop deployment could signify a significant escalation in the ongoing war, surprising many analysts since North Korea faces its own security issues, notably a persistent standoff with the United States and South Korea over its nuclear ambitions.
If the North Korean military suffers heavy casualties, it could pose a severe political challenge for Kim Jong Un, who has not formally acknowledged the deployment. Nevertheless, experts suggest Kim might see this as an opportunity to acquire much-needed foreign currency and security support from Russia in exchange for assisting in the conflict against Ukraine.
“Kim Jong Un is making a significant gamble. If there are no substantial casualties, he might achieve his objectives. However, if many soldiers die in battle, the situation could change drastically,” stated Ahn Chan-il, a former North Korean army first lieutenant and now the head of the World Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul.
Low Wages and New Opportunities
The Storm Corps, also known as the 11th Corps, is among Kim’s elite units, primarily tasked with infiltrating South Korea, sabotaging key infrastructure, and carrying out assassinations in the event of war on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee, who served in the Storm Corps from 1998 to 2003, recalled that while his unit received better provisions than others, many soldiers still faced malnutrition and health issues like tuberculosis.
Despite a slow economic recovery in North Korea over the past three decades, defectors indicate that the average monthly salary for ordinary workers and soldiers is less than $1. Many resort to market activities to survive due to the broken state rationing system.
It is anticipated that Russia will cover all expenses related to the North Korean troops, including salaries estimated at $2,000 per month per soldier. Observers believe that approximately 90% to 95% of these payments will likely end up in Kim’s regime, with the remaining portion going to the soldiers. This means that serving for one year in Russia could earn a North Korean soldier between $1,200 and $2,400, a considerable incentive prompting many young recruits to volunteer for such perilous missions.
Experts suggest that North Korea may offer additional incentives to enhance the soldiers’ social standing, such as memberships in the ruling Workers’ Party and opportunities to relocate to Pyongyang, the country’s capital. Furthermore, family members of soldiers dispatched to Russia could receive benefits like improved housing and access to quality educational institutions.
Choi Jung-hoon, a former first lieutenant in North Korea’s army, remarked that serving abroad would attract many soldiers eager to experience foreign lands for the first time.
Due to strict restrictions on accessing foreign media, North Koreans require state approval to move between provinces within their own country. While international human rights groups have condemned North Korean workers sent abroad as “slaves,” many defectors reveal that such overseas positions are often more appealing than remaining in North Korea, leading some to utilize bribes and family connections to secure them.
“North Korean soldiers are likely to see their deployment to Russia as a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Ahn noted.
However, Ahn and other observers warn that perceptions could shift drastically if these soldiers witness significant casualties among their peers. Many North Korean troops may choose to surrender to Ukrainian forces and seek resettlement in South Korea.
Challenges Ahead
North Korean soldiers are trained for combat in the mountainous terrains of the Korean Peninsula and are unfamiliar with the largely flat battlefields typical of the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, they lack knowledge of modern warfare techniques, including drone usage, as North Korea has not engaged in substantial military operations since the end of the Korean War in the early 1950s.
“My heart sank,” said Choi, now leading an activist group in Seoul, upon seeing a video released by Ukraine that allegedly showed undersized North Korean soldiers likely in their late teens or early twenties.
“None of them realize they are being sent to Russia potentially to die,” he added. “But I believe they are effectively being treated as cannon fodder, as they will be deployed to the most perilous areas and are likely to face death.”
Kim Jong Un may also hope that his troop deployment will encourage Russia to share advanced technology crucial for enhancing his nuclear-capable missile program. The transfer of such technology may depend on the war’s duration and how many more soldiers Kim decides to send.
Nam Sung-wook, a former director of a think tank affiliated with South Korea’s intelligence agency, stated that North Korea could receive hundreds of millions of dollars through the soldiers’ salaries. While these soldiers will gain direct exposure to modern warfare, they are also likely to suffer high casualty rates, and Russia may be hesitant to share its advanced missile technology.
“North Korea will likely continue to conceal the deployment of its troops from its citizens, as public knowledge of their soldiers being sent abroad to face death could provoke widespread unrest,” Nam, now a professor at Korea University in South Korea, concluded.
