Is Russia using North Korea as ‘cannon fodder’? What will rival Seoul do?

South Korea has strongly condemned Russia’s reported use of North Korean soldiers in its war in Ukraine, with defence officials accusing Moscow of deploying the troops as “cannon fodder” in the conflict.

The controversial deployment, which Russia and North Korea deny, has drawn fierce criticism from South Korean authorities.

South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun claimed on Thursday (October 24) that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia’s Far East, where they are undergoing training before being deployed to the battlefield.

“Kim Jong Un simply sold his soldiers” into an illegal war, he added.

South Korea, along with Nato and the United States, believes that thousands of North Korean troops are currently in Russia. According to Seoul’s intelligence agency, 3,000 North Korean soldiers are already training at Russian military bases, and more are expected to follow.

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The soldiers, reportedly paid $2,000 a month, are said to be receiving training in drone warfare and high-tech military equipment.

Seoul’s spy agency claims that these soldiers are using Russian paperwork and uniforms to conceal their presence, a claim Moscow denies.

What will the soldiers do?

North Korean troops are trained for infiltration and disruption operations behind enemy lines, according to experts. However, media reports from Ukraine suggest that some of these soldiers may be sent to the Kursk region, a key battleground in the ongoing conflict.

“Kursk is mostly flatland, and North Korean soldiers may be used as front-line cannon fodder,” said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies. He added that their role could involve cutting off Ukrainian forces and supporting Russian soldiers in combat zones.

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Although North Korea officially denies its involvement, experts suggest that the deployment might be legally justified under the military cooperation treaty between Russia and North Korea, signed in June.

Why does Russia want them?

Russia, facing a manpower shortage, likely sees North Korean soldiers as a solution to logistical challenges, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo. These troops can perform rear-area tasks, allowing more Russian soldiers to be sent to the front lines.

Some analysts believe that Russia’s use of North Korean soldiers is also a way for Moscow to gauge the international reaction to third-party involvement in the war.

What will South Korea do?

The deployment of North Korean soldiers has pushed South Korea closer to providing direct military aid to Ukraine. While Seoul has been a major arms exporter, it has refrained from sending weapons to active conflict zones. However, that policy may soon change.

“It is highly likely that South Korea will provide military support to Kyiv,” said Choi Gi-il, a former national security official. Though Seoul may initially provide defensive weapons, such as surface-to-air missiles, experts say that sending lethal aid could strain South Korea’s relationship with Russia.

With inputs from AFP