Summary
North Korea has deployed over 10,000 troops to Russia, marking its first major combat involvement since the Korean War, in support of Moscow’s efforts in Ukraine.
While this strengthens ties between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, analysts doubt the troops’ effectiveness due to inexperience, language barriers, and cultural isolation.
Their presence could prolong the war but likely won’t deliver a strategic advantage. Critics warn the deployment risks defections and further strains battlefield cohesion.
Despite doubts, the alliance signals deepening North Korea-Russia cooperation amid global concerns.
Take a bunch of sheltered early 20th century peasants and tell them they are the best soldiers in the world. Send them off to war with instructions to kill one of two groups of people that look the same, sound the same, dress the same and carry the same weapons. They were never meant to survive.
They’re also in flat eastern Ukraine, nothing like the mountainous country where they trained.
How well were they drilled on evading drones? Seems like this isn’t going to go well for them.