In a surprising twist in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, North Korean soldiers are reportedly being deployed as part of Russia's war effort. These soldiers find themselves thousands of kilometers from home, integrated into Russian marine and assault corps units. Facing brutal conditions, many of these soldiers suffer casualties, leading Ukrainian forces to view them as hopeless fighters engaged in suicide missions. As they employ outdated military tactics, reminiscent of the Second World War, questions arise regarding their effectiveness and the political implications of their involvement.
North Korean troops are currently being provided with Russian equipment, including uniforms, rifles, and even fake military documents. To integrate seamlessly, they are given phoney Russian names. Among these soldiers is Lee Jong Nam, a 25-year-old sergeant from Pyongyang who joined the army in 2016. Despite the significant losses suffered by these troops, Ukrainian officials believe their presence serves to prolong and escalate Russia's war efforts.
Pyongyang's involvement is not limited to personnel; they are also supplying Moscow with weapons. This deployment offers North Korean soldiers the opportunity to gain valuable experience in modern warfare, an experience they could not obtain domestically. Ukrainian intelligence services, along with South Korea's national intelligence service, have been debriefing captured North Korean soldiers to understand their role and motives better.
In an incident illustrating their commitment to propaganda, an iPad retrieved from a deceased North Korean soldier contained 67 gigabytes of propaganda material. Western intelligence agencies acknowledge North Korea's role in supporting Russia's war efforts, although the full extent of their involvement remains uncertain.
Anastasiia Kozhukhova, a local resident, recounted her experience during an attack:
“I hid in the bath with my 12-year-old son, Roman, and our dog.”
Despite the tension, Ukrainian soldiers like Bohdan express a resolute approach towards the North Koreans and Russians alike:
“I don’t care if they are Korean or Russian. An enemy is an enemy. They all die the same way.”
With thermal cameras allowing for nighttime tracking, Bohdan finds amusement in the enemy's lack of awareness:
“Maybe they don’t appreciate we have thermal cameras and can track them easily at night.”
Observations from Vadym Riddik highlight differences between North Korean and Russian tactics:
“They move in groups of 30 or 40. The Russians are more careful and go around in twos or threes.”
Major General Vadym Skybytskyi notes that the North Koreans initially advanced in large groups across snowy fields—a tactic quickly adapted to the realities of modern warfare:
“To begin with they advanced in large groups across snowy fields. The next lot won’t do that. They are learning new tactics and how to fight in a drone environment.”
The propaganda machine of North Korea also leaves its mark on those who encounter it. Major General Skybytskyi humorously shared an anecdote of a colleague who reviewed captured propaganda material:
“My colleague looked at it. After two hours he said: ‘North Korea is the best country in the world.’”
Vitalii Ovcharenko emphasizes the importance of capturing and interrogating these soldiers:
“You have a real person in front of you. You can ask questions. Pyongyang is sending Moscow infantry as well as weapons.”
The conflict not only remains a battle of manpower but also technology, as Vadym Riddik succinctly puts it:
“It’s a battle of technology. War is the engine of progress.”