North Korean soldiers now suffering casualties

It was previously reported that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has sent approximately 3000 of his troops to support Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.   Initially, American sources — including White House National Security Advisor John Kirby — said they had no idea of their purpose in Russia.  In a previous commentary, I gave that bit of diplomatic-ese a “duh”.  They were not there to picnic.

We now have confirmation of the obvious.  It has now been reported that the number of North Koreans has increased to approximately 30,000 — and have been deployed alongside Russian troops INSIDE Russia.  According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the North Koreans are being deployed in the Kursk region – the portion of Russia that Ukrainian forces currently occupy.  It is further reported that North Korean soldiers have directly engaged with Ukrainian troops for the first time on October 25^th.

The fighting between Ukraine and North Korean troops was confirmed by Jonas Ohman of Blue/Yellow – a Lithuanian-based organization that has been providing Ukraine with intelligence about Russia since 2014.

There have also been reports that North Korean soldiers have been sent to the eastern Donetsk region to help construct fortifications.

The Ukrainian army’s ability to enter Russia to take and hold an entire region has not only been a military setback, but it has also been a huge embarrassment for Putin personally – among a growing number of embarrassments.  (In case you forgot, there was the obliteration of forces marching to Kyiv at the onset of the war … the sinking of the Russian flagship and capital namesake, The Moskva (and several other war ships) … the drone attack on the Kremlin, mostly symbolic but embarrassing … the general failure to gain or hold ground … and now Ukrainian forces on the offensive inside Russia.  I would also call it a huge embarrassment that Putin had to beg Kim Jong Un for help.) 

North Korean General Kim Yong-bok — the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army and close associate of Kim Jong-un — has been sent to Russia to oversee the Korean boots on the ground.  He is North Korea’s leading officer for special operations.

As I wrote in a previous commentary, the use of allied military is a huge game changer.  It portends the possibility of a broader war – even what might evolve into a world war. The concern is heightened by reports that the Russian captive state of Chechia will soon send troops.  Can Belarus be far behind?

It will be interesting to see how the Korean soldiers faire in Russia.  There are obvious language and morale problems.  Ukrainian and Russian soldiers are somewhat familiar with both languages.  Koreans, not at all.  It has also been reported that there is cultural conflict between the Korean and Russian soldiers – with each viewing the other as less competent.

Korean soldiers will be going home wounded, crippled or in coffins.  That is something North Korean mothers had not experienced since the US/Korean War 75 years ago.  It will be interesting to see if the Ukrainian military will target Korean soldiers as a means of sending a message to Putin and Kim.

In any case, it is a disturbing new development in the Ukraine war—made even more disturbing by an apparent lack of attention from the lame duck Biden administration.

So, there ‘tis.