A bold offer from former North Korean soldiers: disrupting North Korean “volunteers” fighting for Russia

What you need to know: This is a unique event: approximately 200 North Korean defectors in South Korea, all former soldiers, volunteered to help Ukraine by psychologically attacking North Korean “volunteers” who supposedly support Russia on the front lines.

-With extensive knowledge of North Korea’s military culture, their goal is to undermine morale among these soldiers, many of whom are allegedly mistreated and used as cannon fodder. Their presence could encourage North Korean soldiers to defect, potentially changing the dynamic.

–South Korea is considering lifting restrictions while Seoul debates supplying Ukraine with weapons, increasing the risk of regional escalation.

North Korean defectors volunteer to help Ukraine, which boosts soldiers’ morale

Pyongyang promised send as many as possible 10,000 “volunteer” soldiers. to aid Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, but they may not be the only North Koreans heading to the front lines. South China Morning Post first reported on Monday, about 200 “former North Korean soldiers” who defected to South Korea stepped forward to ask for help in winning the hearts and minds of soldiers who will fight for Russia.

The defectors, each with up to ten years of military experience, asked for permission to “launch a campaign of psychological warfare against their former comrades now reportedly gathering in Russia.” They said they would use their “inside knowledge of the North Korean military to disrupt and demoralize soldiers sent to fight in Ukraine by exploiting their psychological weakness.”

“We are all military veterans who understand North Korea’s military culture and mental state better than anyone else,” Ahn Chan-il, a 69-year-old defector and member of the group, told This Week in Asia.

A proxy Korean war in Ukraine

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that North Korean soldiers were already on the front lines, suggesting that manpower shortages persist in Russia.

Moscow initially denied South Korea’s claims that North Korea was sending volunteers and described it as “fake news.” However, there have been reports of the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces have been operating since August, when Kiev launched its invasion.

Ukrainian officials call on the West lift restrictions about how it can use the weapons and ammunition it has provided.

“Conclusion: listen to Ukraine. Solution: lift restrictions on our long-range attacks against Russia now,” wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

South Korean officials also warned it would also consider helping Ukraine with weapons and other military equipment – a move that could significantly increase the risk of escalating the regional conflict. While Seoul may not allow its citizens to travel to Ukraine, it is possible that North Korean defectors may be allowed.

“The North Korean soldiers are there basically as mercenaries, but we went as volunteers on a goodwill mission,” Lee Min-bok, one of the key figures in the initiative who sent an appeal for the secondment to the Ukrainian embassy in Seoul, told southern Chinese authorities. Morning fast.

“Simply put, our presence in Ukraine could significantly impact the morale of North Korean soldiers,” Lee noted, suggesting that North Korean soldiers should be expected to be treated as “cannon fodder.”

“North Korean soldiers were able to find hope and courage in our presence in Ukraine, which inspired them to cross to the other side in search of freedom,” Lee added.

At least 18 North Korean soldiers they apparently desertedand six officers they were killed earlier this month.

It is unclear whether the defecting North Koreans tried to reach Ukrainian lines, but it would likely be their only chance to escape the Hermit Kingdom. Few North Koreans have ever been allowed to travel abroad, and those who attempt to do so face severe punishment. Olympic athletes were subjected to a month-long “ideological cleansing” after the games to remove any foreign influences. Athletes and the few others allowed to travel outside North Korea rarely flee for fear of reprisals against their families and even friends.

But if it’s the difference between life and death, perhaps more of those 10,000 will lay down their weapons.

Author experience and expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a writer based in Michigan. He has contributed to over forty magazines, newspapers and websites with over 3,200 published articles over a twenty-year journalistic career. He writes regularly about military equipment, the history of firearms, cybersecurity, politics and international affairs. Peter is also Co-author for Forbes and Billing work. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: (email protected).

Image source: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.