By John Q. Hosedrinker The news about the first North Korean troops killed in Russia strikes me as a devastating testament to the horrors of war and the extent of human exploitation. I find myself reflecting on what it means to be born into such relentless deprivation and brutality as those young men. Surviving the atrocities of life in North Korea only to be shipped off as mere cannon fodder to a foreign battlefield is nothing short of tragic. It’s a fate that no human being should have to endure.
Imagining the mindset of these soldiers is haunting. They arrive in a foreign land, clutching fake identities that serve only to further dehumanize them. The desperation is palpable. One questions if they realize the depth of their situation, or if they have been so thoroughly indoctrinated that their own survival instincts have been snuffed out. It’s sobering to ponder how they must feel, looking around at the chaos and destruction while grappling with the cold reality that surrendering may offer a better life—yet the threat of retaliation against their families looms like a dark shadow over that glimmer of hope.
The involvement of North Korean troops in this conflict speaks volumes about the collaboration between two of the world’s most repressive regimes. Both North Korea and Russia have displayed a propensity for treating individuals as expendable resources. These young men, who have known nothing but servitude and oppression, are now thrust into a war they cannot comprehend. Their lives reduced to statistics in a conflict far removed from their understanding or agency. The image of a North Korean flag being planted in Donetsk can feel agonizingly ironic—symbols of freedom and sovereignty mistaken as emblems of pride while those who carry them are reduced to anonymous victims.
The reality that many will never return home, their fates sealed in a foreign field, is heart-wrenching. It’s difficult to digest that these young men, already subjugated by their own government, are now sent to fight for another oppressive regime. The thought that they are merely pawns in a high-stakes political game is maddening. I can’t help but think how tragic it is to be born into such systemic horror, with one’s life dictated by the whims of tyrants—whether of Pyongyang or Moscow.
The dynamic of soldiers being treated as commodities in these conflicts raises alarm bells. Are they being swapped for technology or basic provisions? How cruel that their homes must have diminished to mere bargaining chips in the global power play. My heart aches for the soldiers who bravely march into Ukraine, unaware of the true nature of their mission. For many, this may be an escape from a dismal existence, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of violence that offers no reprieve.
It’s astonishing to think that the world stands witness to such a grim reality while political narratives unfold around us. The so-called “great leaders” hide behind their walls of propaganda while their citizens die in foreign lands. What must it feel like for those lucky enough to be captured, to finally experience humane treatment for possibly the first time in their lives? The disillusionment must be immense, breaking through years of conditioning and lies fed by an oppressive regime that has kept them shackled in ignorance.
As I process this unfolding tragedy, the urgency to provide asylum and support to North Korean defectors becomes increasingly clear. Here is a group of individuals who need a means of escape from their historical oppression. They carry the weight of their homeland’s pain, yet they also possess invaluable insight that could help shape a different narrative. As the war continues, I hope that compassion will guide the response—offering refuge to those who have risked everything to reclaim their autonomy.
In contemplating the fate of these soldiers, I can’t help but reflect on broader themes of humanity. The absurdity of using humans as disposable assets in the game of war reveals a chilling detachment from the value of life. As the dust settles over this tragic chapter, we must not forget the faces behind the numbers. Each casualty tells a story—a reminder of the consequences of unchecked authoritarianism and the ongoing fight for dignity, recognition, and agency amid the chaos. What a tragic irony it is that so many are sent to die in pursuit of a power struggle that has abandoned them. They deserved so much more than this.