North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine is a significant escalation in the conflict. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia to assist in the fighting, despite concerns about language barriers and inexperience impacting their effectiveness on the battlefield. The soldiers have mainly been deployed to the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces launched an offensive in August.
The U.S. and other countries are wary of the growing cooperation between North Korea and Russia, as it is seen as destabilizing for the region. This issue was a focal point of a recent meeting between President Joe Biden and the leaders of South Korea and Japan. There are concerns that Kim may be using his troops as mercenaries or cannon fodder, potentially risking embarrassment if they defect or are taken as prisoners of war.
The soldiers from North Korea are being taught key military terms in Russian, but communication difficulties and differences in tactics may hinder their integration with Russian forces. There are also concerns about their lack of combat experience since the Korean War, which could impact their effectiveness on the front lines. Despite these constraints, Russia may try to leverage the North Korean troops to conduct massed attacks or form an operational maneuver group to penetrate deeper into Ukrainian territory.
Overall, while the North Korean troops may not significantly alter the course of the war, their presence could help Putin prolong the conflict and maintain goodwill with Kim. The relationship between North Korea and Russia appears to be at a new high, even as the war in Ukraine continues.
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