On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence launched a video appeal to North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia, urging them to surrender via a Korean-language video from the “I Want to Live” project.
The Ukrainian appeal highlights the risks North Korean soldiers face in a foreign war and urges them to avoid the fate of Russian troops who have suffered heavy casualties. The video promised defectors safe conditions, food, and medical care, contrasting the harsh conditions they might endure under their own commanders. Ukrainian and international observers speculate that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is likely using coercive measures, such as holding soldiers’ families hostage, to prevent desertions. This fear-based control is a hallmark of the North Korean regime, where loyalty is tightly monitored, and dissent is severely punished.
“Surrender! Ukraine will give you shelter, food, and warmth.”
The “I Want to Live” project addressed North Korean soldiers, who were sent to fight alongside Russia against the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in Korean. pic.twitter.com/9WoqqpAPUY— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 23, 2024
The call for surrender coincides with reports that North Korea plans to send around 12,000 troops to support Russian forces in Ukraine. According to South Korean defense officials and U.S. intelligence, about 3,000 North Korean soldiers have already arrived in Russia. These soldiers, expected to bolster Russia’s military efforts with special forces, engineers, and artillery units, are currently undergoing training at Russian bases. Washington and Seoul have labeled these deployments as provocative actions that could destabilize regional security. U.S. officials, including National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, stated that these troops would be “fair game” on the battlefield and treated no differently than Russian soldiers.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol condemned the deployment, calling it a threat to the Korean Peninsula’s security. He indicated that South Korea might escalate its support for Ukraine, potentially providing both defensive and offensive military aid.
The deeper military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, rooted in a June 2024 defense pact, extends beyond soldiers. North Korea has already supplied millions of artillery shells to Russia, reportedly in exchange for technological support to advance its nuclear and missile programs. Both countries deny these arms transfers, but evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the conflict has become increasingly clear.
#Ukraine #Russia #War #news 🇰🇵🇰🇷 A photo released by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service on October 18, 2024, shows recent satellite images of North Korean soldiers gathering at a Russian military facility, – Yonhap pic.twitter.com/mGvnu3Qfj4
— Sławomir Skwara (@AwomirSkwa39610) October 24, 2024
NATO and U.S. defense officials have expressed concern over the consequences of North Korean involvement, noting the potential for dead and wounded North Korean soldiers in Ukraine. “They’re fair targets, and the Ukrainian military will defend themselves against North Korean soldiers the same way they’re defending themselves against Russian soldiers,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday. “There could be dead and wounded North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine.”
Furthermore, experts suggest that the cultural and linguistic differences between North Korean and Russian troops will complicate their integration on the battlefield. Despite these challenges, the collaboration is seen as an opportunity for North Korea to gain military experience and critical resources for its struggling economy.
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