I picture Kim Jong Un as a needy child-man, hungry for validation and praise. Super-excited to test his lovely well-drilled troops (identical tin soldiers) in battle, and to demonstrate the superiority of his glorious regime. I bet he fantasizes about great victories, a chest full of medals, and international acclaim.
Then there’s Putin. I’ll bet you he has zero respect for North Korea. I’ll bet he thinks Un is a maggot. BUT, he needs to add more humans to the meat-grinder.
I’m devastated for Ukraine and tearing my hair out over the lack of western support for such a strategic ally. But well, I’m cynically holding my popcorn and ready to watch how these two egotistical despots work together. Hopefully not well.
One thing Ryan misses (or just didn’t mention) is that these troops will almost certainly not be allowed back into North Korea. They are being sent to die for a propaganda win for Kim Jong Un and Putin, but he cannot allow them to return. They will have far too much information to allow back.
once upon a time the idea of Russia (the USSR to be precise) asking for help from a satellite state... Russia must be scraping the end of the barrel. Looks so desperate.
May be worth mentioning that DPRK drones are generally speaking not just malnourished but swarming with intestinal and skin parasites due to generations of neglect. Methamphetamine abuse there is on par with alcohol abuse. Russians and all FSU were raised with a very disdainful view of DPRK and “ending up like North Korea” was an important factor around 1989-1991 events that ended up with dissolution of DPRK
Dunno about North Korea. I did have some experience, mostly indirect, with the ROK back in the VN days. Scary tough disciplined MFs. If their norther counterparts are half a tough this could be really bad.
I picture Kim Jong Un as a needy child-man, hungry for validation and praise. Super-excited to test his lovely well-drilled troops (identical tin soldiers) in battle, and to demonstrate the superiority of his glorious regime. I bet he fantasizes about great victories, a chest full of medals, and international acclaim.
Then there’s Putin. I’ll bet you he has zero respect for North Korea. I’ll bet he thinks Un is a maggot. BUT, he needs to add more humans to the meat-grinder.
I’m devastated for Ukraine and tearing my hair out over the lack of western support for such a strategic ally. But well, I’m cynically holding my popcorn and ready to watch how these two egotistical despots work together. Hopefully not well.
One thing Ryan misses (or just didn’t mention) is that these troops will almost certainly not be allowed back into North Korea. They are being sent to die for a propaganda win for Kim Jong Un and Putin, but he cannot allow them to return. They will have far too much information to allow back.
Some people are predicting defections. Me, I’m not sure about that. But if Ukraine captures prisoners, they might talk?
They might, and the PRK will ask for them back, but I don’t think they’ll be headed back to the PRK (if they do, that’s a bad sign for them).
Agree.
once upon a time the idea of Russia (the USSR to be precise) asking for help from a satellite state... Russia must be scraping the end of the barrel. Looks so desperate.
More body bags and set up a connection with North Korea to transfer the 15k dead bodies home.
May be worth mentioning that DPRK drones are generally speaking not just malnourished but swarming with intestinal and skin parasites due to generations of neglect. Methamphetamine abuse there is on par with alcohol abuse. Russians and all FSU were raised with a very disdainful view of DPRK and “ending up like North Korea” was an important factor around 1989-1991 events that ended up with dissolution of DPRK
I meant USSR towards the end there, my bad
Dunno about North Korea. I did have some experience, mostly indirect, with the ROK back in the VN days. Scary tough disciplined MFs. If their norther counterparts are half a tough this could be really bad.