North Korea has reportedly dispatched thousands of young soldiers to Russia to assist in the fight against Ukraine, including elite special forces personnel. However, the outside world still believes that these soldiers may face more risks than rewards.
According to reports from the Associated Press, this situation may escalate soon as some troops have already arrived at the frontline. A former North Korean special forces soldier stated that these soldiers might view their trip to Russia as a rare opportunity to earn money and explore foreign lands.
“They are too young to fully understand what this means,” said defector Lee Woong-gil. “They might just see it as an honor to be chosen among many North Korean soldiers to go to Russia.”
“But I believe most of them might not make it back alive,” Lee Woong-gil, who served in the North Korean special forces “Storm Corps” and defected to South Korea in 2007, added.
This week, the Pentagon announced that North Korea has sent around 10,000 soldiers to Russia, who could potentially engage in combat with Ukraine in the coming weeks. The South Korean presidential office disclosed that over 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to the western front line of Russia.
The North Korean “Storm Corps,” also known as the 11th Army, is one of Kim Jong-un’s elite forces. Lee Woong-gil, who served in the “Storm Corps” from 1998 to 2003, recalled that despite relatively better treatment in his unit, many still suffered from malnutrition and contracted tuberculosis.
This defector mentioned that the average monthly salary for ordinary North Korean workers and soldiers is less than $1, forcing many to engage in capitalist market activities to make a living.
It is estimated that Russia will cover all expenses related to the deployment of the North Korean troops, including their salaries, with observers estimating a minimum monthly salary of $2,000 per person. However, around 90% to 95% of the allowances are likely to go into Kim Jong-un’s coffers, with only a fraction being allocated to the soldiers. This means that North Korean soldiers could earn between $1,200 to $2,400 during their service in Russia for a year, enough to entice many young soldiers to willingly embark on the risky journey.
Choi Jung-hoon, a former North Korean army lieutenant who now works as a leader of an activist organization in Seoul, stated that serving abroad holds allure for many soldiers who are eager for experiences beyond their homeland.
“No one would think they are going to Russia to die, but I believe they are cannon fodder because they will be sent to the most dangerous locations,” Choi Jung-hoon expressed.
North Koreans are prohibited from accessing foreign news, and moving between different provinces within the country requires state approval. Defectors noted that many resort to bribery and connections to secure opportunities to work overseas.
Ahn Chan-il, a former North Korean soldier and now the head of the World Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul, remarked that North Korean soldiers would view the opportunity to go to Russia as a rare chance.
Leader Kim Jong-un may seek to leverage the troop mobilization to compel Russia to share highly sensitive advanced technology needed by North Korea to enhance its nuclear missile capabilities.
South Korean intelligence agency operative turned think tank director Nam Sung-wook pointed out that North Korea could potentially earn hundreds of millions of dollars by sending soldiers to the front line to earn wages. While these soldiers may gain valuable firsthand experience in modern warfare, there could be significant casualties, and Russia is unlikely to share its advanced missile technology.
Ahn Chan-il and other observers indicated that if the soldiers witness mass casualties among their comrades, they might surrender to Ukrainian forces and request resettlement in South Korea.