There are successive reports that North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia engaged in combat with Ukrainian troops, resulting in casualties. Meanwhile, there are claims that the North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia are in fact nothing more than ‘bullet cannons’ and that the North Korean authorities will not want them to return alive.
Mr. Jeong (pseudonym), a North Korean defector who was dispatched to a Russian construction site as a soldier and worked as a construction worker, said in a recent interview with Dong-A Ilbo, “It is possible that the soldiers currently dispatched to Russia did not know where they were going until just before leaving the country.”
Mr. Jeong said, “Inside the North Korean military, the overseas dispatch of military workers dispatched to Russia as construction workers is referred to as ‘dispatch’ rather than ‘dispatch,’ and the military does not officially inform military workers of their deployment location until just before departure. “I didn’t,” he said.
In particular, based on his experience, he revealed that there is a possibility that soldiers deployed to war zones did not volunteer to deploy, but were forcibly selected by the military.
He said that even military workers dispatched to Russia do not go through an official recruitment and selection process within the military. In general, it is said that the superiors unilaterally selected dispatchers from exemplary military service members who had previously received commendations.
Considering this, Mr. Jeong said, it is highly likely that the soldiers currently deployed to combat zones, especially Sergeant Ha, were forcibly dispatched against their will.
At the same time, he said, “All North Korean soldiers who are dispatched overseas take an oath stating that they are willing to sacrifice their lives on the battlefield,” and “I promise to carry out the orders of our respected Comrade Supreme Commander (Chairman Kim Jong-un) to the end no matter what the circumstances and conditions.” “It’s about making a decision and moving forward,” he said.
It is explained that even when dispatched to Russia as a construction worker, he made a public pledge right before leaving the country to ‘follow the Supreme Leader’s orders even if it meant losing his life on the battlefield.’
The North Korean military authorities’ directive to all soldiers leaving the country appears to be aimed at preventing soldiers from leaving their posts or disobeying orders.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jeong predicted that when the North Korean authorities dispatch their soldiers to a war zone, they will only pay the minimum compensation and will not pay salaries or special compensation.
Mr. Jeong said that even though soldiers dispatched to Russia as construction workers worked hard for more than 10 hours a day, they were only paid $100 (approximately 140,000 won) per month, the minimum living expenses, on the grounds that they were replacing military service with labor. .
The National Intelligence Service revealed in an audit of government affairs conducted privately by the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 29th of last month that the monthly salary of North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia, which is invading Ukraine, is around $2,000 (about 2.8 million won).
However, Mr. Jeong said, “It makes no sense that soldiers deployed to war zones receive $2,000 individually,” and added, “South Korea’s view of compensation for mercenaries is completely different from the concept of compensation for actual military service members in North Korea.” pointed out.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jeong expressed his opinion that even if the dispatched soldiers are elite soldiers who have received special training, they will inevitably become cannon fodder when sent into actual combat.
He said, “Even if they are members of the elite special forces Storm Corps, the environment in which they were trained is mountainous terrain, but the area where combat is taking place in Russia is an empty plain.” He added, “North Korea probably did not dispatch troops from the beginning with expectations of the soldiers’ ability to engage in combat.” .
Even Mr. Jeong said, “North Korea would not want even one of the soldiers it sent to Russia to return alive from the battlefield,” adding, “If they return and reveal the facts of their experiences to the internal residents, negative public opinion may arise against the regime.” He also argued, “Because of this, we will judge that it is not helpful in maintaining the system.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy held a press conference after attending the European Political Community (EPC) summit held in Budapest, Hungary on the 7th (local time), saying, “North Korean troops dispatched to Russia engaged in combat in Kursk, a combat zone. He claimed, “There were many North Korean military casualties.”
At the same time, President Zelensky said, “I believe that if countermeasures are not taken, more North Korean troops will be deployed in Russia.”
Source: www.dailynk.com
