What You Need to Know: In a unique development, around 200 North Korean defectors in South Korea, all former soldiers, have volunteered to aid Ukraine by psychologically targeting North Korean “volunteer” soldiers who are reportedly supporting Russia on the frontlines.

-With extensive knowledge of North Korean military culture, they aim to weaken morale among these troops, many of whom are allegedly poorly treated and used as cannon fodder. Their presence could encourage defections among the North Korean soldiers, potentially shifting dynamics.

-South Korea is considering lifting restrictions, while Seoul debates supplying Ukraine with arms, heightening the risk of regional escalation.

North Korean Defectors Volunteer to Aid Ukraine, Target Troop Morale

Pyongyang has pledged to send as many as 10,000 "volunteer" soldiers to aid Russia's war effort in Ukraine, but they may not be the only North Koreans heading to the frontlines. The South China Morning Post first reported on Monday that around 200 "ex-North Korean soldiers" – who defected to South Korea – have stepped forward, asking to help win the hearts and minds of the troops that will be fighting for Russia.

The defectors, each with up to a decade of military experience have requested that they be allowed to "launch a psychological warfare campaign against their former comrades, now reportedly assembling in Russia." They said they would use their "insider knowledge of North Korea's military to disrupt and demoralise the troops sent to fight in Ukraine, exploiting their psychological vulnerabilities."

"We are all military veterans who understand North Korea's military culture and psychological state better than anyone else," Ahn Chan-il, a 69-year-old defector and member of the group, told This Week in Asia.

A Proxy Korean War in Ukraine

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed that North Korean soldiers are already on the frontlines, suggesting Russia's manpower shortages persist.

Moscow initially denied South Korea's claims that North Korea was sending the volunteers, and labeled it "fake news." However, the presence of the North Korean soldiers has been reported in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been operating since Kyiv launched an invasion in August.

Ukrainian officials have called for the West to lift restrictions on how it can employ weapons and ordnance that it has provided.

"The bottom line: listen to Ukraine. The solution: lift restrictions on our long-range strikes against Russia now," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

South Korean officials also warned that it would also consider aiding Ukraine with weapons and other military hardware – which could greatly increase the risk of escalation in the regional conflict. While Seoul may not allow its own citizens to travel to Ukraine, there is the possibility the North Korean defectors might be granted permission.

"North Korean soldiers are there essentially as mercenaries, but we would go as volunteers with a goodwill mission," Lee Min-bok, one of the initiative's key figures who posted an appeal for deployment to the Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul, told the South China Morning Post.

"Simply our presence in Ukraine could significantly impact the morale of North Korean troops," Lee noted while suggesting that North Korean troops should be expected to be treated as "cannon fodder."

"North Korean soldiers could find hope and courage in our presence in Ukraine, inspiring them to cross over in search of freedom," added Lee.

At least 18 North Korean soldiers have reportedly deserted, while six officers were killed earlier this month.

It is unclear if the North Koreans who deserted had attempted to reach Ukrainian lines, but it would likely be their only opportunity to escape from the Hermit Kingdom. Few North Korean citizens are ever allowed to travel abroad and those attempting face harsh punishment. Olympic athletes were subject to a post-games month-long "ideological scrubbing" to remove any foreign influence. Athletes and the handful of others who are allowed to travel outside of North Korea rarely defect for fear of reprisals carried out on their families and even friends.

But if it is the difference between life and death, perhaps more of those 10,000 will throw down their arms.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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