North Korean Troops Join Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict
- NATO and the Pentagon confirmed the deployment of about 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia, primarily near Ukraine.
- These soldiers, mostly in their teens or early 20s, have never encountered combat or the war's terrain.
- Kim Jong-un's gamble could backfire if the troops suffer significant casualties, impacting his regime.
After weeks of speculation, NATO and the Pentagon confirmed that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in Russia, primarily stationed close to Ukraine's border in the Kursk region. These troops, mostly drafted young men, have not seen combat and lack experience in the flat terrain of Ukraine, where they are being trained by Russian forces in basic infantry operations and artillery usage. This troop deployment is unprecedented, marking the first substantial ground force sent by North Korea abroad since the Korean War in the early 1950s. Kim Jong-un's decision to send these poorly trained soldiers is seen as a significant gamble, as their potential losses could impact his regime's stability and image. However, former North Korean soldiers suggest that participating in the conflict might provide these troops with pride and possibly better treatment for their families back home, albeit at great risk to their lives.