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.
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.
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.
Seems like an effort to secure combat experience that will enable a stronger North Korean negotiating position once the viability of the North Korean military is proven. I think it’s a calculated risk by un to give the senior military leaders something to think about other then overthrowing him or invading the south. This screams of an attempt to distract and draw attention away from internal problems.
Russia does not need more cannon fodder. From Russian-speaking commentators I understand that Russia use small groups of men from places like Nepal as their lead attackers. They can be motivated at a relatively low price and there is no strategic significance if they die.
Russia is a huge country, it would be great for Russia to hire reasonably-price NK soldiers for protecting their air bases and ammo depos. If they are air defense troops, that would give the NK soldiers valuable air defense experience to bring back home.
If the NK soldiers are special forces then their deployment is almost certainly to give them combat experience in anticipation of a possible war with South Korea. These guys won't defect, Special Forces are always drawn from loyalists. In the videos you show, the men look tall, my guess is that these are not the starved NK masses but indeed Special Forces.
Is it possible this is an effort to gain combat experience for NK's fine SF formation? How much taboo will these guest soldiers be actually exposed to on the front lines? Taking casualties is part of war, who is to say what risks these battalions will actually be forced to take. Meat grinder or a nice sear on the surface? These premier troops were an investment of the state's resources and take years to train. Throwing away a precious asset just doesn't pass the common sense sniff test.
Ok, I don’t know about the special forces, but what is their plan to prevent regular soldiers from defecting en mass, especially if they’re promised to be transferred to South Korea (I believe that the SK government already said that they will take them)?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seems like an effort to secure combat experience that will enable a stronger North Korean negotiating position once the viability of the North Korean military is proven. I think it’s a calculated risk by un to give the senior military leaders something to think about other then overthrowing him or invading the south. This screams of an attempt to distract and draw attention away from internal problems.
Russia does not need more cannon fodder. From Russian-speaking commentators I understand that Russia use small groups of men from places like Nepal as their lead attackers. They can be motivated at a relatively low price and there is no strategic significance if they die.
Russia is a huge country, it would be great for Russia to hire reasonably-price NK soldiers for protecting their air bases and ammo depos. If they are air defense troops, that would give the NK soldiers valuable air defense experience to bring back home.
If the NK soldiers are special forces then their deployment is almost certainly to give them combat experience in anticipation of a possible war with South Korea. These guys won't defect, Special Forces are always drawn from loyalists. In the videos you show, the men look tall, my guess is that these are not the starved NK masses but indeed Special Forces.
Is it possible this is an effort to gain combat experience for NK's fine SF formation? How much taboo will these guest soldiers be actually exposed to on the front lines? Taking casualties is part of war, who is to say what risks these battalions will actually be forced to take. Meat grinder or a nice sear on the surface? These premier troops were an investment of the state's resources and take years to train. Throwing away a precious asset just doesn't pass the common sense sniff test.
More body bags and set up a connection with North Korea to transfer the 15k dead bodies home.
Ok, I don’t know about the special forces, but what is their plan to prevent regular soldiers from defecting en mass, especially if they’re promised to be transferred to South Korea (I believe that the SK government already said that they will take them)?
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.