By John Q. Hosedrinker 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un acknowledged in a recent speech that troops were deployed to the Kursk region of Russia to clear mines, a rare admission of their involvement in the ongoing conflict. During the 120-day deployment, nine soldiers from the engineering regiment tragically lost their lives. Kim honored the fallen soldiers and met with returning soldiers, some of whom were injured, highlighting the heroism displayed by the troops. This deployment is believed to be part of an agreement where Russia provides financial aid, military technology, and essential supplies in exchange for North Korean support, allowing North Korea to bypass international sanctions.
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Kim Jong-un admits North Korean troops clearing landmines for Russia, and the implications of this are, well, frankly, they’re a bit grim. The term “clearing landmines” almost feels like a darkly comedic euphemism for something much more brutal: sending soldiers to essentially blow themselves up. It’s as if the North Koreans are being used as human shields, walking directly into harm’s way so that Russia can advance its objectives. The thought of this being the reality is genuinely disturbing.
The idea that Russia is using North Korean troops to walk through minefields is a stark image, painting a picture of these soldiers as expendable, a form of combat fodder. It’s like they’re being sent in as a precursor to more advanced military units, essentially taking the brunt of the initial blast. The potential benefit for North Korea, it would seem, lies in the access to technology and resources they gain in exchange. Kim’s administration, it appears, is willing to sacrifice a portion of its fighting-age male population for these advantages, allowing them to strengthen their position against South Korea, its allies, and potentially gain more leverage over China.
We’re talking about a situation where North Korea is seemingly quite willing to lose a sizable chunk of its fighting-age population. An abundance of unemployed, fighting-age males sitting around is a major risk for any dictatorship. It would be a simple way to get a regime overthrown. The narrative of sending these men to Russia as a “huge boom” must be one of the cruelest jokes ever told. One can only imagine what the soldiers thought when they were first given this task and the reality of the situation sunk in.
It’s hard not to imagine the soldiers, lined up like lemmings, ordered to walk in a straight line toward a perceived “opportunity.” The alternative would likely mean dire consequences. It’s almost like an outsourced form of kamikaze. And the worst part is, it’s not even a secret. There have been open announcements of thousands of North Korean soldiers going to Russia for the purpose of clearing mines and rebuilding infrastructure in the Kursk region. The reality, however, is likely much grimmer than the official story.
Those “lucky” enough to come back alive and injured are apparently given a hug by “Dear Leader.” The imagery is almost surreal, a government celebrating the survival of men who were used as human shields. It is also important to note, the generals in charge have never experienced an actual war in their lifetime. Considering North Korea has been isolated for decades, and its military hadn’t fought a major conflict in half a century, it makes you wonder how the government will control the narrative if these soldiers return in shreds, or worse. The public would have to swallow the Dear Leader’s propaganda in the face of such a disaster.
The true nature of this exchange is that North Korea is trading bodies for technology. North Korea doesn’t have the money to buy demining equipment, but they do have an ample supply of soldiers, making them the perfect solution for Russia. North Korean soldiers are essentially free labor, and their lives are seen as expendable. The soldier in the picture may not look happy, but he’s “lucky” to receive a hug from his leader.
The military, it appears, is just a means to get technological advancement to counter any potential attacks from the U.S. and South Korea. If North Korea wishes to move against South Korea, they need soldiers that can safely clear minefields. This would give them a strategic advantage. It’s a dark reality: these soldiers likely did not choose this path, and it is more likely they were forced into it.
The harsh reality is that the soldiers are not likely to return home, and any bodies will likely be buried in Russia. Their families back home will be given a heroic narrative about their death, all in the name of Kim. The bodies will not be sent back to North Korea. Propaganda, a system of control, has been used for generations to subjugate the population of North Korea. They are living a life of servitude.
This also serves the purpose of keeping North Korean society in check. If you have too many young men, especially if food and resources are scarce, you are more likely to have an uprising. Sending these men to the war zone is a method of keeping this under control. There would be no desertion or retreat. It is more likely they are not coming back.
The soldiers in these propaganda photos would most likely not be happy about their situation. It’s doubtful they adore Kim, but for the sake of survival, they must project such adoration. They’ve walked through minefields, they didn’t desert, but it was out of fear. And if the leader is hugging them, well, that’s their “boon.”
In conclusion, the situation is a grim reality of exploitation and sacrifice. It highlights the lengths to which Kim Jong-un’s regime will go to secure its own interests, even at the cost of its own people.