“Russia has problems” – We asked five Ukrainian soldiers about North Korean troops fighting for Moscow

Russia's war in Ukraine is on the verge of a dramatic escalation. Multiple reports, intelligence assessments and a video suggest that North Korean troops could soon fight alongside Kremlin forces.

While Pyongyang has long supplied Moscow with weapons, the deployment of ground troops would be a significant development that would raise alarm bells in capitals around the world.

In the latest development on October 21, South Korea summoned Russia's ambassador to Seoul, Georgy Zinoviev, and called for the “immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops and termination of relevant cooperation” with Pyongyang.

Washington has not confirmed the operation but said it was “concerned” by the reports. On October 18, Michael R. Turner, chairman of the US Intelligence Committee, called on President Joe Biden to respond immediately.

Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied reports.

“We see a lot of contradictory information,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media, state-controlled Interfax news agency reported.

“The South Koreans say one thing and then the Pentagon says they don't have confirmation, so there's a lot of conflicting information. So that’s probably how you should do it.”

Despite Peskov's vague statements, there is ample evidence that North Korean troops are already being trained in Russia to participate in some capacity in the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.

A Western official told the Kyiv Independent on October 15 that 10,000 people had already been sent. Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's HUR military intelligence agency, put the number at 11,000 and said they would be “battle-ready” by November 1. A video appeared online that allegedly shows her in a military training camp in Russia.

The Kyiv Independent asked five serving Ukrainian soldiers – some of whom asked to be identified only by their first names for security reasons – what they thought about the possible entry of North Korean troops into the Russian army.

Myroslav Hai, an officer in Ukraine’s army

“We are not too worried about the North Korean soldiers because for us it is a sign that Russia has problems.”

“The people who agree to fight for Russia in this war are doing so for money. Russia has a lot of problems with mobilization.”

“Many people who decide to take part in this war die. And other people from Russia don't just want to go to war for the money; This is a very important sign.”

“They will be very low quality troops; they will have no combat experience in this war, so strategically it will not make much of a difference on the front lines.”

“If North Korea sends a lot more troops, that will be a problem for them again. You will have language problems. Ukraine also has experience with (Foreign Legion) soldiers, so we understand these difficulties.”

“We need to work with South Korea on this issue. We need to create a special government program for soldiers to convince them to stop fighting and make a proposal that they can return to Korea, not North Korea, but South Korea.”

“Because many people from North Korea are trying to flee the regime to South Korea. This would be a really good program for them.”

Denys, a drone operator with the 79th Air Assault Brigade

“We are already at war with one of the strongest countries. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“You shouldn’t come here; only death awaits them here. Let them go AWOL (absent without official permission) immediately. This is not their war and not their country.”

North Korean troops could be used in the Russian war in Ukraine

Russia's war in Ukraine may have reached a new stage this week after reports that North Korea has switched from supplying weapons to Moscow to sending its own troops. A Western diplomat familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent on October 15 that Pyongyang had sent 10,000 troops there

Vadym, a Ukrainian soldier fighting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

“It all depends on how many there will be. I heard that some have already been captured in Kursk Oblast. I don't think their quality is very high. North Korea is a country stuck somewhere in the 1950s and 60s.

“Of course this is bad, because the more there are, the worse it is. (For us it means) more work.”

“We should influence them like everyone else through psychological operations and leaflet distribution. It’s not a panacea, but it’s something, even if one percent runs over to us and capitulates.”

“Overall, I don’t think they’re going to have a big impact on anything.”

Petro Kyzyk, a battalion commander at the National Guard

“We will kill anyone who comes to our country as occupiers!”

Mykyta, a medic with the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade

“Technically, Russia is fighting at the expense of its allies: Chinese drones, Iranian missiles and Shahed (drones), Chinese armored cars, North Korean missiles, ammunition… and now soldiers.”

“This highlights the ridiculous problem that the 'second strongest army in the world' cannot defeat Ukraine, which is weak on its own and which the West is afraid to adequately help, leaving it sitting on rubble.”

“But this also points to another terrible problem. The 'second strongest army in the world' is not only draining as many resources as possible from its allies, no, it is starting to fight in a coalition format.”

“The West is providing little help and reacting sluggishly to the growing scale of chaos. Recent statistics showed that the average age of contract soldiers in the Russian army has reached 50 years. Somewhere it also said that the wounded were sent into battle.” I believe in the former and would like to believe the latter, but there is no evidence.

“Enrollment bonuses for joining the Russian army have increased dramatically this year. This suggests that they need to motivate people to join the army to avoid general mobilization.”

“Many 'expert' bets are in jeopardy because many said that Russia would soon lose power. But they've found another million-dollar secret location to source meat from. That's scary.

“With another 10,000 more soldiers, Russia can at least not slow things down much and at most receive a third of the required personnel every month. This is tangible.”

Additional reporting by Asami Terajima and Daria Shulzhenko.