who are the super soldiers

Kim Jong-un sent ‘combat slaves’ to help Vladimir Putin in the war that Russia has been fighting against Ukraine for almost 1000 days. The presence of North Korean soldiers in a training center in the Russian Far East has been in the spotlight for days.

Who are the fighting slaves

According to South Korean intelligence, Pyongyang sent 1,500 men who arrived in Russia with military ships and AN-124 aircraft. The soldiers are destined for the battle, where they would not look too different from Buryats and especially YakuziRussian military personnel from Asia.

The ‘combat slaves’, according to information provided by Seoul’s intelligence, are members of North Korea’s special forces and represent the military elite. These are departments that are subjected to brutal training, in completely isolated environments. The only aim of the army, which is banned by the regime, is to destroy the enemies of the ‘beloved leader’. The units sent to Russia are part of the 11th Army Groupwhich could include 80,000 men divided into 10 brigades. Kim Jong-un could, according to the conditions proposed by Kiev as well, send up to 12,000 men to support the Russian war effort.

The response of South Korea and the US

In this context, the Seoul Foreign Ministry called the Russian ambassador to the country Georgiy Zinoviev to ask for an explanation. Seoul has demanded the immediate removal of the 1,500 North Korean troops already deployed in Russia. “Seoul expressed its grave concerns over the recent deployment of North Korean troops into Russia and strongly urged the immediate withdrawal of North Korean forces,” said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Kim Hong-kyun to Russian ambassador Georgy Zinoviev.

The situation is also being investigated by the United States which has so far, like NATO, said it cannot confirm that troops have been sent from Pyongyang. “We are aware of reports that North Korea has sent and is preparing to send additional troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russia“said Robert Wood, the deputy US ambassador to Ukraine. “If that is true, this would be a dangerous and disturbing development and a clear deepening of military relations between North Korea and Russia,” he said, explaining that the United States is “consulting with friends and partners on the implications of this decision.”

In Washington, caution seems to be in order, with the United States saying for several days that it has no proof. “We’re not at the point where we can verify this information and say whether it’s accurate,” State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patell told reporters.

Not just North Korean soldiers

The North Korean military is not the only foreigner integrating the Russian military. The Economist reports that Ukraine is taking prisoners soldiers from different countries. Standing out are fighters from Sri Lanka and Nepal, used by Moscow as cannon fodder at very low prices: the families of these soldiers will not receive compensation if they die.

Among the prisoners in the hands of Kiev are elements that came from Serbia, Slovakia, Cuba, Morocco, Brazil, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and some African countries. A unique chapter for India, which is trying to bring the citizens listed by Moscow back home: at least 85 men would have returned, but several dozen would still be at the front.

The dangers for Putin

It is clear that the deployment of a North Korean contingent would be a qualitative leap for Russia’s strategy. However, there would be risks for Putin. The Russian president could be his new enemy, South Korea so far Seoul has supported Ukraine only by sending humanitarian aid or, at most, helmets.

Now, if the Moscow-Pyongyang axis were to consolidate, South Korea could decide to send weapons to Ukraine. South Korea’s military currently has half a million active duty personnel and another 3 million reservists. The arms industry has nothing to do with NATO standards: the country is set to become the fourth largest arms exporter in the world by 2027 behind the US, Russia and France, as noted by Bild.