Defectors urge North Korean soldiers in Russia to desert
Former North Korean soldiers, operating under the name of the Defectors' Propaganda Corps, have delivered materials to Ukraine aimed at encouraging North Korean military personnel serving in the Russian army to desert. According to the "Korea Times" portal, the goal is to persuade soldiers from Pyongyang to leave the ranks of the Russian armed forces.
Leaflets and audio files containing appeals for defection and instructions have been provided to the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian embassy in Seoul.
The Defectors' Propaganda Corps was established by former North Korean soldiers who managed to escape to South Korea. The group approached President Volodymyr Zelensky with a proposal to conduct psychological warfare against their compatriots fighting alongside Russia.
Last week, Ukraine's Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, confirmed in an interview with the Korean station KBS that there had been initial clashes between Ukrainian forces and North Korean soldiers. He responded affirmatively when asked if this indicates North Korea's official involvement in the conflict.
According to Umerov, five North Korean units, each consisting of about 3,000 soldiers, might be deployed on the front.
Information about the activities of the Defectors' Propaganda Corps and the involvement of North Korean military personnel in the war in Ukraine is reported by the Polish Press Agency, citing the "Korea Times" portal.
USA: Up to 10,000 Koreans might fight for Putin
According to the US Department of State, 10,000 North Korean soldiers have already been deployed in the Kursk region. For the Russians, more than serving as reinforcement, they act as a tool to escalate the conflict.
The Kremlin denied it for a long time, but on the 24th of October, Putin admitted that talks about a partnership with Pyongyang were being conducted. It was said that the Korean dictator sent him special forces. However, special forces in North Korea are nothing more than better-trained and equipped units than regular ones. In practice, Kim Jong Un sent Putin's army marksmen – light infantry without heavy equipment, which cannot be compared to Russian guard units.
