South Korean volunteers ready to counter North Korean troops in Ukraine
Some South Koreans are willing to participate against North Korean units fighting alongside Russia on the Ukrainian front. One of the initial volunteers, Lee Min-bok, an activist opposing Kim Jong Un's regime who fled North Korea years ago, stated this.
5:43 PM EDT, October 28, 2024
A group of approximately 200 former North Korean soldiers, now living in South Korea after escaping North Korea, have offered their assistance to Ukrainian forces. They are prepared to go to the front lines to initiate a psychological campaign aimed at weakening the morale of regime soldiers and encouraging defection, especially those set to fight on Russia's side.
"Most North Korean soldiers, including elite special forces, suffer from malnutrition. They do not represent a high level. The soldiers seen on TV during parades are the elite of the army population," said Ahn Chang-Il, a 69-year-old military veteran, to journalists. "We understand North Korea's military culture and psychological state better than anyone else. We are ready to work as psychological warfare agents, through loudspeakers, distributing leaflets, and even acting as translators," added the former military man.
The South China Morning Post reported on the offer from these former North Korean soldiers. Another veteran, Lee Min-bok, sent a letter to the Ukrainian embassy in South Korea. He emphasized the readiness of these former soldiers to assist and appealed to President Volodymyr Zelensky for aid in rescuing North Korean soldiers, whom he referred to as "cannon fodder."
Lee Min-bok is an activist against the Kim Jong Un regime. He gained fame for sending balloons over North Korea, carrying one-dollar bills, flash drives, and leaflets with messages debunking the personality cult surrounding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
A similar "arranged meeting" of opposing units occurred during the Ukraine war once before. In April 2022, a confrontation took place in the battle for the Ukrainian city of Popasna in the Donbas between pro-Russian "Kadyrovites" and Chechen volunteers on Ukraine's side.
How valuable is Kim's army? They might be hungry, but they will still fight
"Is this some kind of hysteria?! We are bombarded with reports about the Korean contingent, but what would such an army truly do there? They do not know Russian or understand the military systems used in Russia. They are left with a Kalashnikov, a spade, and the task of entering the trenches as cannon fodder," commented Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak, a former commander of the Land Forces. "I have serious doubts about the actual involvement of North Koreans in fighting on Russia's side," he added.
Gen. Skrzypczak believes that North Korean units likely do not have substantial combat strength. In his opinion, the number of troops (previous estimates suggested 12,000 to 30,000 soldiers) does not alter the balance of forces in the war.
"It would be a mistake to think they could easily be persuaded to surrender or switch sides. Let's not forget that Kim's regime holds the fate of the soldiers' families, who could end up in penal camps. These soldiers could be under duress. They might be hungry, but they will still go to fight," he concluded.
The WP interlocutor emphasizes the significant threat posed by the political cooperation between Russia and North Korea. "Such an alliance, supported by China, demands the attention of the American administration. The United States is involved in three regions: the war in Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Far East. This situation benefits Putin as American politicians and officials must divide their focus among these three theaters," Gen. Skrzypczak elaborates.
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According to estimates by Ukrainian military intelligence, about 12,000 soldiers, including three generals and 500 officers, have already arrived in Russia. They trained at five ranges, coordinating with units from both nations. Korean soldiers would likely engage in battles as mercenaries, wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian documents.
In response to these reports, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, known for his firm stance against Kim's regime, stated that his country is considering the possibility of providing military aid to Ukraine. This includes potential deliveries of air defense and missile systems, K9 howitzers, K2 tanks, and ammunition, according to Business Insider.
South Korea's support for Kyiv might also include supplying intelligence on North Korean weapons and tactics, as suggested by Korean analysts cited by the Ukrainian agency Unian.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that military command reports indicate Russia may deploy the first North Korean units in the battle zones around October 28. So far, there has been no evidence of their participation in the war. Ukrainian military experts expect North Koreans to enter the fray on the front lines in the Russian Kursk region, potentially forming the 2nd and 3rd security lines for the front, thus freeing up some Russian forces for offensive operations aimed at reclaiming territories from Ukrainian control.
