After news of the deployment of hundreds of thousands of North Korean troops in support of Russia to Ukraine, many are speculating about how they will play a role in the war. The question remains, how effective will these inexperienced soldiers be and how many soldiers will be able to influence the background of the war. The news was reported by the American newspaper Newsweek.
According to Ukraine, South Korea and Western intelligence sources, North Korea is sending about 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia. Which would essentially help bolster Russia's war effort against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol last week that there are 3,000 North Korean troops at a Russian military training camp, which is very close to the battlefield. According to South Korea's intelligence agency, the first batch of 1,500 people have already been sent to Russia, provided with Russian army uniforms, weapons and fake documents to live in Siberia. The United States has said that Russia has deployed 8,000 North Korean troops to the border of Ukraine.
Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow in Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said North Korean troops would increase Russia's power, as their presence would rapidly increase the number of Russian troops on the battlefield.
After more than two years of fighting, both Kiev and Moscow are now looking for alternative ways to restore their forces. Because compulsory military service for young people has lost popularity. Oleksandr Litvinenko, the head of the National Security Council of Kiev, said that Ukraine will recruit 160,000 new troops.
Ramon Pacheco Pardo, professor of international relations at King's College London, believes that the North Korean army will be able to cooperate with Russia in the strategic field.
Although the experience of the North Korean army is limited, participation in the actual conditions of this war will be a new experience for them. But it also has some problems. Through this war, the North Korean troops will have the opportunity to train in war.
Andrew Yeo of the Brookings Institution also said it may take time for North Korean forces to fully integrate with Russian forces due to differences in language, culture and military practices.
According to multiple news reports, photos and videos of North Korean military training were found in the Primorsky region on the Russian border. Their body structure and small stature also indicate a somewhat poor health condition.
North Korean soldiers are admired for their unwavering loyalty to their leadership and mental toughness. However, there are doubts as to how well it can sustain its fighting spirit in the face of modern and tough resistance like Ukraine.
Ji Hyun Park, a senior fellow at the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy and a former citizen of North Korea, said that although North Korean soldiers are mentally prepared, their physical endurance is not enough for the current war situation.
A message from a Ukrainian government hotline to North Korean troops has been released. It has been said, do not give your life on foreign soil for no reason.
18 North Korean soldiers have already escaped. If any troops defect or are captured by Ukrainian forces, they may not want to return to Russia or North Korea, analysts say.
