About 200 former soldiers from North Korea, who fled the regime of Kim Jong Un and currently reside in South Korea, are eager to join Ukraine.

According to SCMР, they aim to act as psychological warfare agents to demoralize North Korean troops that Russia may enlist for combat on its side. These veterans possess seven to ten years of military experience in the DPRK army and hope to leverage their insider knowledge against their former comrades.

Войска КНДР

Former military officer An Chang-il, who leads the Global Institute for North Korean Studies, stated that the group is prepared to launch operations on the Ukrainian front, utilizing psychological warfare tactics such as loudspeakers, postcards, and even direct communication with North Korean soldiers if they are captured. An believes that psychological impact could be a crucial factor: the ex-soldiers are aware of the weaknesses of their former peers and understand the culture that is instilled in the DPRK army over the years.

Among those reaching out to the Ukrainian side is also ex-soldier Lee Min-bok, who sent an open letter to the Ukrainian embassy in Seoul. In his appeal, Lee urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to allow this group to participate in the fight against Russia and North Korean mercenaries. Lee believes that such a move could not only undermine the morale of North Korean soldiers but also inspire them to switch sides to the Armed Forces of Ukraine or return to South Korea.

КНДР, война

Lee Min-bok emphasized that, unlike North Korean soldiers who find themselves in Ukraine under duress as mercenaries, this group of former DPRK soldiers would be arriving on a voluntary basis.

Source: scmp.