Reports have surfaced that Russian soldiers fear being shot by their North Korean allies. North Korean troops fighting alongside Vladimir Putin’s forces have been accused of drunken violence and terrorizing local Russian communities. Last year, Pyongyang deployed roughly 11,000 soldiers to support Russia’s front-line efforts.
These North Korean units have been stationed in the Kursk region, where they engaged in intense combat against Ukraine’s army. Their involvement has bolstered Putin’s struggling forces, helping to reclaim much of the territory Kyiv’s troops had captured last August.
However, serious concerns have emerged about the conduct of these soldiers. Incidents of heavy drinking, theft, and attempted sexual assaults have been reported. A private chat message from a Tuvan military unit highlighted a collapse in discipline among the North Korean troops. It noted, “Fifteen cases of drunkenness last month, four fights, two attempted rapes of civilians, and seven thefts.” The message added, “There are rumors within the unit that it’s not only dangerous to turn your back on them, but some don’t even want to arm them.”
While the arrival of North Korean soldiers has boosted manpower, it has also brought unexpected problems. The once-rigid discipline associated with Kim Jong-un’s army appears to have deteriorated under the limited freedom these troops now experience.
South Korean sources report that Pyongyang’s forces have suffered heavy casualties since arriving in Russia. Approximately 4,000 soldiers have been killed or wounded in combat, prompting Kim Jong-un to send an additional 3,000 reinforcements earlier this year.
Alongside personnel, North Korea has also supplied millions of rounds of ammunition, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems. According to a Reuters investigation, these weapons and troops provided Russia with a crucial battlefield edge.
In April, North Korea publicly confirmed for the first time that it had deployed troops to assist Putin in the Ukraine conflict. Pyongyang’s state news agency KCNA reported that its soldiers helped Russian forces “completely liberate” the Kursk border area, fulfilling an order from leader Kim Jong Un.
This announcement came shortly after Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov publicly praised the “heroism” of North Korean soldiers—the first official acknowledgment from Moscow of their role in the war.
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