Kim Jong-un. Photo: STR / AFP
Hundreds of North Korean soldiers were killed in the battles in Kursk, fighting on the side of Russia against Ukraine. Only a few were captured, as most soldiers prefer to commit suicide rather than be captured by the enemy. This was reported by ABC News with reference to a North Korean deserter.
Former DPRK army sergeant Ryu Sung-hyun, who fled to South Korea in 2019, said that the North Korean military is forced to choose death, as captivity means that their relatives will be subjected to severe repression, including execution or sent to camps.
Thousands of soldiers in the Russian army
According to the United States, Kim Jong-un’s regime has sent more than 12,000 troops to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine. US intelligence also records the use of North Korean weapons by Russians.
South Korean intelligence said that in January alone, about 300 DPRK soldiers were killed in action and more than 2,700 were wounded. In February, Pyongyang sent additional units to Kursk.
Executed in front of the people
In January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers. In a video released, one of them said he did not want to return home. Experts suggest that these soldiers belonged to the DPRK’s General Intelligence Directorate.
Another defector, Park Yuson, explained that for the North Korean military, being captured means a death sentence for their families. “If a soldier is captured and passes information to the enemy, his family will be sent to camps or executed in front of the people,” he said.
North Koreans are not ready for modern warfare
Ryu Sung-hyun and Park Yuson believe that the massive losses among the North Korean military are due to their unpreparedness for modern warfare. They don’t know how to defend themselves against drones and often try to shoot them down to no avail. Most soldiers have never seen a drone before the war, making them an easy target.
Kim Jong-un gains combat experience
According to Park, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is sending soldiers to Russia in exchange for technology, which is a serious threat to international security. In addition, participation in the war gives the DPRK real combat experience that can be used in the event of a conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
“If Russia wins, it will strengthen the alliance of dictators. If the war continues, Kim Jong-un will send more soldiers, and more people inside the country will learn the truth. This could become a threat to Kim himself,” Park Yuson concluded.
