South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed that a North Korean soldier, captured while fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine, has died from his injuries. The soldier, who was seized on December 26 by Ukrainian forces, succumbed to his wounds hours after capture. Though the exact location of the capture remains undisclosed, this is the first confirmed case of a North Korean soldier being captured during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Pyongyang’s Deployment of Troops to Russia
North Korea has reportedly sent a significant number of soldiers—estimated between 10,000 and 12,000—to reinforce Russia’s military in Ukraine. These forces have been deployed to regions like Kursk, a critical area where Ukraine executed a surprise border incursion earlier this year.
Reports from South Korean intelligence and Ukrainian officials indicate the North Korean soldiers are being employed in high-risk frontline assignments where they may serve primarily as assault groups with few supplies or backup.
Their work seems primarily to beef up Russian strength in hot battle sectors.
Bloody Sacrifices from North Korea
The sending of North Korean troops seems to be highly costly in human life:
Casualty Estimates:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded since their deployment. South Korea’s intelligence service had earlier estimated the number to be around 1,000 but has since revised it upwards.
Reasons for High Casualties:
According to South Korean intelligence, the soldiers face severe challenges, which include:
An unfamiliar battlefield environment.
Lack of capacity to counter advanced drone warfare adopted by Ukraine.
Deployment as an expendable force for high-casualty operations.
South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, after briefing by the NIS described these troops as “expendable frontline assault units.”
Enhanced North Korea-Russia Alliance
The military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has been more robust since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. These include;
Defense Treaty:
In June, a historical defense pact between Russia and North Korea was signed. This treaty entered into force in December as Russian President Vladimir Putin described it as the “breakthrough document.”
The agreement is considered to include military and technological cooperation, further strengthening the alliance.
Supply of Weaponry and Equipment:
North Korea has provided weaponry to Russia, including 240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery systems.
Pyongyang has been preparing to provide suicide drones to Russia. This could be seen as further intensifying the conflict.
Mutual Support:
According to NATO, Moscow has been assisting the missile and nuclear programs in North Korea in return for personnel and military equipment.
Increased International Worry
Ukraine’s allies, including NATO and South Korea, have termed North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war as a “dangerous expansion” of the conflict. South Korean intelligence believes Pyongyang is using the war to gain valuable combat experience and modernize its conventional warfare capabilities.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has cautioned that the strengthening relations between Russia and North Korea could destabilize regional security, with spillover effects potentially going beyond the battlefield in Ukraine.
South Korea’s Stance and Activities
South Korea has been closely following North Korea’s activities in the Russia-Ukraine war. Key developments include:
Intelligence Updates:
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) recently reported that North Korea is preparing for troop rotations or additional deployments to Ukraine.
South Korean authorities have also detected North Korean arms transfers, including the shipment of modern artillery and rocket systems to Russia.
Possible Policy U-Turn:
South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol hinted in November that South Korea might begin to supply weapons to Ukraine-a dramatic departure from the long-standing policy of the country to avoid selling weapons to countries engaged in ongoing conflict.
Threats to Pyongyang:
Seoul warned that Pyongyang’s increasing involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict may push North Korea further into international isolation.
North Korean involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war reveals increasing complexity of geopolitical dimensions. Such an increased toll in casualties of North Korean troops portrays the human price they have to pay as well, while growing military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang threatens to destabilize both the regional and international setting. In such a scenario, this may further strain diplomatic efforts on the international stage as the war progresses.