In a recent military training exercise in North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un was seen interacting with soldiers. This image from Reuters highlights the engagement of North Korean troops as they prepare for their overseas missions. Reports have emerged indicating that North Korea has deployed special forces to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. On October 25, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine revealed intercepted communications which suggest a sense of derision among Russian soldiers towards their North Korean counterparts, referring to them as the “K Battalion.” Some Russian soldiers even went so far as to call North Korean troops “the f**king Chinese.”
CNN reported on the same day that, according to the intercepted data, Russian soldiers expressed doubts about how North Korean troops would respond to orders and how they would manage ammunition and equipment supplies in the heat of battle.
The findings indicate that the Russian discussions were steeped in contempt for North Korean soldiers, clearly depicted in their terminology, while the communication records revealed that a Russian soldier lamented the confusion they faced when meeting with the North Koreans, stating, “They just stood there with blank stares.” Another soldier expressed frustration, saying, “I have no idea what to do with these North Korean troops.”
The intercepted communications, obtained on the evening of October 23 from a secure Russian dialogue channel, detailed plans for the Russian army to assign one interpreter and three senior officers for every 30 North Korean soldiers. However, some Russian soldiers questioned the practicality of this arrangement, suggesting it would complicate their operational structure, as they would need to pull personnel from current deployments. One soldier, in a fit of anger, exclaimed, “I’m telling you, tomorrow we’re getting 77 battalion commanders, all of whom are either battalion leaders or deputy commanders.”
