South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun stated on October 24 that the North Korean troops sent to Russia should be regarded as “mercenaries” rather than regular “deployment.”
During a National Assembly Defense Committee audit, Minister Kim explained, “In typical military deployments, troops maintain their nation’s command structure, wear uniforms, bear insignia, and proudly display their national flag. However, North Korean soldiers are disguising themselves in Russian military uniforms, operating under Russian command without any operational authority, moving as instructed.”
He further criticized, “They are nothing more than cannon fodder mercenaries. Kim Jong-un has effectively sold his own People’s Army into an illegal invasion war.”
The South Korean Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) also analyzed footage obtained from the battlefield in Ukraine, revealing that most of the North Korean soldiers deployed were inexperienced recruits in their teens and twenties.
A military official noted, “There don’t appear to be many seasoned veterans among them. The majority are young soldiers who have not been in service long.”
According to the DIA, most of these soldiers are likely between their late teens and early twenties, with many potentially being 2005–2007-born recruits, considering North Korea’s conscription starts at age 17.
Minister Kim’s remarks and the DIA’s assessment stand in contrast to the earlier disclosure on October 18 by intelligence authorities, which suggested that North Korea had dispatched elite troops from the 11th Corps (also known as the Storm Corps), its premier special operations unit, to Russia.
Regarding this, Minister Kim added, “It’s difficult to pinpoint the locations of North Korean forces scattered across Russia at present. Apart from the 11th Corps, which is known to have been deployed, there may be other units involved as well.” He also indicated that additional deployments could take place next year.
BY KEUNPYUNG LEE, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
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