Despite sending troops into Russia, both Russia and North Korea are unwilling to acknowledge the fact. North Korean soldiers have also disguised themselves as ethnic minority residents in the Russian Far East to enter Russian forces. Russia has requested ammunition and missiles from North Korea, as well as military personnel. It is embarrassing for a military force that ranks second in the world to need assistance from a military force ranked over thirty.
Of course, North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Russia is driven by its own calculations. In the short term, North Korea aims to exchange combat personnel for foreign exchange, food, energy, more advanced weapon technology, combat experience, and advanced weaponry. The long-term goal is likely to secure security guarantees from Russia, which is one of the world’s top nuclear powers. Whether this nuclear umbrella is truly effective remains uncertain, but trading cabbage for dollars is pragmatic.
Intelligence obtained by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service indicates that Kim Yong-fuk, the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, has personally led an advance team to the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Kim Yong-fuk is a close confidant of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and the media speculates that he may be in charge of the North Korean aid to Russia. North Korea has also dispatched military officers to observe the Russia-Ukraine war in order to learn modern warfare tactics. Despite the Russia-Ukraine conflict deteriorating into a war of attrition with the battlefield turning into a meat grinder, it remains highly valuable for North Korean military and political high-ranking officials.
North Korea boasts one of the largest military forces in the world, with an army of 1 million soldiers, even surpassing the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Additionally, North Korea has a navy of 60,000, an air force of 110,000, and 560,000 reserve personnel. In contrast, South Korea currently has an army of approximately 560,000, a navy of 67,000, an air force of 50,000, and 4.5 million reserve personnel.
Despite its large numbers, the North Korean military suffers from poor weapon equipment, lack of effective training, and a significant gap in military capabilities compared to South Korea.
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