North Korean Soldiers in Ukraine: Insights from Defectors

As North Korea deploys troops to the battlefield in Ukraine, defectors reveal that while these soldiers face challenges such as malnutrition and lack of contemporary training, their loyalty and indoctrination could make them formidable in combat.

 

Haneul, a defector from the North Korean military, vividly recalls the relentless hunger that plagued his service, where a meal consisted mainly of cracked corn and mouldy cabbage. He lost weight rapidly during his initial training and soon, malnutrition affected his entire battalion, necessitating a recovery period. The conditions improved slightly upon deployment to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the border with South Korea, where rice was part of their diet, albeit often cut with sand. Haneul ultimately defected in 2012, traversing the perilous DMZ, which gives him insight into the plight of roughly 11,000 North Korean soldiers assisting Russian forces in Ukraine.

Recent reports indicate that these troops have arrived in substantial numbers, with estimates of casualties already exceeding a hundred, according to South Korean intelligence. Despite their poor living conditions, defectors assert that the soldiers should not be underestimated. Most are drawn from the elite Storm Corps with heightened morale, though they lack the skills necessary for modern warfare.

Lee Hyun Seung, a former special forces trainer, attests that while the Storm Corps undergoes rigorous physical training, including martial arts and improvised weaponry, they remain underfed. Recent footage of these soldiers reveals younger individuals who appear frail, contrasting sharply with North Korea's propaganda about its military might. During Haneul’s service, he recalls using only a few bullets for live-fire practice and instances of evading orders to shoot trespassers.

Concerns linger about how effectively these troops can adapt to the unfamiliar combat conditions in Kursk. Although their training has been designed for the mountainous Korean landscape, experts emphasize that their deployment suggests Kim Jong Un’s limited options, given the underwhelming capabilities of regular soldiers who often engage in agricultural labor.

Language barriers and communication issues have also contributed to operational mishaps, including accidental attacks on Russian forces. Despite perceptions that North Korean troops are merely expendable resources, their loyalty to the regime is deep-rooted, driven by intense ideological indoctrination and harsh discipline that militate against defection.

Many are likely to see participation in this conflict as an opportunity, propelled by a desire to demonstrate combat capability and potentially improve their status within the military ranks. Former South Korean special forces commander Chun In-bum warns that dismissing these troops merely as "cannon fodder" would be a grave mistake, as they may acclimatize to combat conditions rapidly.

Although significant numbers of troops are unlikely to turn the tide in a war characterized by heavy casualties, experts muse that these initial deployments represent just a fraction of a potential 60,000 to 100,000 soldiers that North Korea could send. Despite overwhelming losses, North Korea's leadership can afford to sacrifice these soldiers with minimal political fallout.

Despite the grim expectations surrounding North Korean troops' possible casualties, defector sentiment leans toward hope that they could return safely to their homeland. Communication strategies such as loudspeakers or drone-drop leaflets have been proposed to encourage defection; however, defectors remain skeptical about the likelihood of mass exodus, citing ingrained conditioning against surrender in military culture, where taking one’s life is seen as a more honorable fate.

In this fragile situation, former trainer Lee expressed a commitment to assist soldiers on the frontline, acknowledging the challenges posed by brutal indoctrination and the systemic obstacles against defection. Ultimately, defectors like Haneul hold onto the hope that their fellow soldiers might safely return to North Korea, reflecting the complex emotional and ideological investment these individuals have in their homeland.