Nearly 200 North Korean defectors who live in South Korea, many with military backgrounds, seek to deploy to Ukraine to launch a psychological warfare campaign against Pyongyang’s troops reported to have deployed to Russia, according to the South China Morning Post.
“We are veterans who understand North Korea’s military mindset better than anyone,” said Ahn Chan-il, a defector and head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies.
He expressed the group’s readiness to work as psyops operators, such as conducting loudspeaker broadcasts, preparing and distributing leaflets, and serving as interpreters.
According to the report, the proposal reflects the anger shared by the over 30,000 defectors from the North that now live in South Korea. They have become alarmed by Kim Jong-un’s “aggression and disregard for international law” in sending troops to aid Russia.
Drawing on their deep understanding of North Korea’s military culture, the defectors believe they can exploit weaknesses and potentially encourage North Korean troops to “turn their guns around.”
Ahn, who defected in 1979 after being inspired by South Korean loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflets while serving as a guard on the frontlines, said the group could also persuade captured North Korean soldiers to defect if they were to fall into Ukrainian hands.
Lee Min-bok, another leading figure in the initiative, has appealed directly to Ukraine, writing an open letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky through the Ukrainian embassy in Seoul.
“North Korean soldiers are there essentially as mercenaries, but we would go as volunteers with a goodwill mission. Simply our presence in Ukraine could significantly impact the morale of North Korean troops,” he said, expressing the hope that the Ukrainian government would welcome their offer.
The Ukrainian embassy has yet to respond, and South Korea’s foreign and unification ministries have declined to comment.
The initiative comes amid political turmoil in South Korea, following leaked Telegram messages between a senior security official and a conservative lawmaker, which hinted at possible cooperation with Ukraine targeting North Korean forces aiding Russia.
He stated that South Korea “will not sit idle” if North Korean troops support Russia, suggesting that Seoul may consider arming Ukraine if military collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow escalates.
Wi Seong-gon, a military analyst, indicated that South Korea could be moving closer to supplying weapons to Ukraine, possibly focusing on defensive systems such as anti-aircraft missiles without ruling out the provision of offensive weapons such as artillery ammunition.
The Chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (HUR), Kyrylo Budanov, told The Economist on Tuesday that approximately 12,000 North Korean troops, including 500 officers and three generals, are currently deployed to Russia. According to Kyiv Post sources within HUR, North Korea is providing personnel, weapons, and equipment to Russia to help offset its significant battlefield losses.
Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” (Хочу жить) surrender hotline, run by HUR, has urged North Korean soldiers sent to fight against Ukraine to surrender and avoid taking part in the conflict.
The deployment follows claims, made by Ukraine and South Korea in mid-October, that Pyongyang had sent troops to support Moscow’s invasion, linked to the mutual defense pact signed between Russia and North Korea in June.
This article was originally published by Kyiv Post on October 28, 2024.