Wars are never easy on the armies which fight them. In the context of the Ukraine-Russia war, there is ample testimony that as the war has dragged on so have the casualties in battle multiplied. Last month, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing intelligence and undisclosed sources, reported a grim milestone: about one million Ukrainians and Russians have been killed or wounded since the war began. The majority of dead are soldiers on both sides, followed by Ukrainian civilians. According to government figures, in the first half of 2024, three times as many people died in Ukraine as were born, the WSJ reported, a grim reminder of the desperation of mankind to achieve victory.
It has been reported that now North Korea has joined the Ukraine conflict by deploying over 11000 soldiers in the Western Kursk region of Russia. What was the compulsion for North Korea to send troops to help the Russians in their warfighting? A question answered by Putin himself that it was at the insistence of President Kim, the proposal was accepted. Which country will deny such a request? It then brings us to a very plausible explanation that President Kim wanted to further cement the close relationship he intends to maintain with Russia so that he can have a strong ally on his side in the ongoing confrontation with the USA.
The North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia belong to the Storm Corps which is considered one of the elite formations of the North Korean Army. According to reports they are well-trained, well-equipped and well-motivated to fight this war. How are we then seeing such a large number of casualties of the North Koreans? As a military thinker, the most apparent reason seems to be their lack of combat experience and training to fight a war in an asymmetric environment where extensive use of drones is being used by the adversary. It is also important to understand that a soldier gives his best when he is motivated to fight for a cause which justifies the need to go to war. That is why we normally see military commanders addressing the troops on the battlefield to give them the necessary oxygen to their men to fight prolonged wars. Battle fatigue also plays an important role in making soldiers lose focus and work on reduced operational efficiency. Therefore, there are twin challenges in fighting long wars as this.
In this context there arises a serious human rights issue where soldiers are being used as cannon fodder to fight wars of other Nations, furthering the vested interests of leaders as we see in the case of North Korea. Why would a Nation deliberately push its soldiers to fight another Nation’s war, when such a request was never made? It also seems suicidal that North Korean soldiers have been pushed into the battlefield without proper battle inoculation and thereby we see such a high number of casualties. These soldiers have been up against a very professional Ukrainian Army who have employed their special forces and drones in the battle in Kursk. It seems that President Kim Jung Un just does not care.
This brings us now to a large question which relates to the humanitarian aspect of such an action by any Nation. Why should international organisations not question President Kim for taking such a recourse? However, in reality, this will never happen as IHRO as well as the UNO will remain a silent spectator as often seen in the case of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
To the contrary, we have reports now that North Korea is preparing itself to send additional troops to Russia. South Korea’s military spokesperson has said that it has detected signs of North Korea preparing to send more troops and weapons, including suicide drones, to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. North Korea has already provided 240mm multiple rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers and was seen preparing to produce more suicide drones to be shipped to Russia after leader Kim Jong Un guided a test last month, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Such drones have been widely used in the Ukraine war, and Kim ordered mass production of aerial weapons and an update of military theory and education, citing intensifying global competition, state media reported.
There is also a lurking fear in South Korea that Kim is preparing his Army to construct field defences with barbed wires on its borders. There is also a possibility that the North will test-fire an intermediate-range hypersonic missile around year-end ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration while sending more garbage balloons to the South.
North Korean Soldiers in Russia PC: First Post
With the backing of Russia, North Korea is likely to try to stage various strategic provocations next year, such as launching intercontinental ballistic missiles and conducting a nuclear test to enhance its negotiating power with the U.S.
Are we then seeing the possibility of a confrontation between both the Korean nations in the near future. Kim recently gave a speech to battalion commanders and political instructors state media KCNA reported, adding that he urged the military to focus efforts on completing war preparations. “He ardently called upon all the participants to go all out for bringing about a substantial and fundamental improvement in improving their capabilities for fighting an actual war”.
These are ominous signs which need the attention of all well-meaning Nations to urge restraint on such fanatical leaders who can transform the World into a “State of Chaos.”
Title image courtesy: Stimson Center
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of India and Defence Research and Studies
