By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Expanding educational ties, Russia has accepted 96 North Korean students to universities last year, including MGIMO, and enrolled 29 in geology programs this year. Collaboration extends across sectors like banking, energy, medicine, and geology, with Russia constructing a language center in North Korea. These actions reflect growing relations, further strengthened by North Korean military and cyber support, and increased tourism since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
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North Korea makes Russian mandatory in schools, which immediately conjures a whole host of questions and scenarios. I mean, imagine the classroom scenes: “Venerated Teacher, please instruct us how to say in glorious Russian Comrade-Speak ‘May I please borrow your phone while I go to the bathroom?'” It’s hard not to chuckle at the thought, but the reality is likely far more grim. The underlying implication is that North Korean children are being prepped for something – and the most obvious something is to serve as cannon fodder in Russia’s war effort.
If you consider the potential outcomes, it gets even darker. Russian proficiency, in this context, isn’t about fostering cross-cultural understanding. It’s about survival, or rather, delaying the inevitable. Perhaps the only Russian a North Korean soldier needs to know is, “Не стреляйте. Я сдаюсь” – “Don’t shoot, I surrender.” It’s a phrase that speaks volumes about the desperation and the brutal reality of their situation. This is not about education; it is about preparing an entire generation for a potentially deadly role, being able to understand orders for the meat grinder. It is not about personal enrichment; it is about national survival, fueled by desperation and dependency on Russia.
The alliance between North Korea and Russia is evidently very strong, and the implementation of mandatory Russian classes underscores this. It’s a commitment that goes beyond mere diplomatic gestures. North Korea is taking this relationship seriously, even to the point of potentially sacrificing its youth on the battlefields. “First lesson: This is the Russian for ‘dude, stop wanking yourself into a crippled froth and come walk through this minefield for us.'” The phrase is cynical, but not untrue. This isn’t a standard language class; it’s a grim introduction to a potentially deadly role.
Considering this, the long-term implications are troubling. It feels like a wasted generation of Koreans, forced to learn a language not for cultural exchange or professional opportunities, but for a very specific and dangerous purpose. What’s even sadder is it seems like most aspects of life in North Korea are “mandatory”, so is this any surprise? When you look at the bigger picture, it’s about the Kim family owing their regime to Moscow, and therefore needing to get as many favors as possible.
The narrative shifts slightly when considering the educational landscape of North Korea. From the comments, there are reports that the country may even have better education criteria than some states in America. However, the catch is that the education is tied into propaganda and indoctrination and is therefore a means of control. There’s also the suggestion that all North Koreans get free college education, but the details that are left out – the starvation, the brutality – speak volumes.
Now, imagine the motivations behind this decision. It could be for the tourist push they’re trying to pitch to Russians. Maybe it’s a strategic move to secure resources and reinforce the alliance, or possibly it’s a combination of these and other factors. Some speculate it is a crude trading commodity with Russia. It’s a sad situation when the only thing they have to offer is human capital, and their children are the product.
This shift to Russian could also be seen in a broader geopolitical context. It is speculated that China will not be particularly happy about Russia taking control of North Korea. There is concern that China could be usurped by Russia, especially after spending decades propping up North Korea and ensuring its reliance on China to avoid economic collapse. The relationship between China and Russia is an interesting one – the two nations announced their relationship “knows no bounds” a month before Russia invaded Ukraine, so the three nations may well be working together behind closed doors.
The fact is, without the backing of Beijing, North Korea would have collapsed long ago. China does not want another western-allied democracy on its border. Kim Il Sung, the first leader of North Korea, was supported by the Soviets. Now, the Chinese keep them propped up. This makes for a delicate balancing act, with potential shifts in power dynamics and influence. So, with this context, it’s not hard to see why they’re pushing Russian education so hard.
Ultimately, the imposition of mandatory Russian lessons in North Korean schools is more than just an educational shift; it’s a window into the complex and often tragic realities of the country. It is a sign of a deepening alliance, a potential preparation for conflict, and an indication of the sacrifices that are being made in the name of national survival. It’s a situation filled with both cynicism and a certain kind of grim determination.