Summary

Around 10,000 North Korean troops have arrived in Russia, poised to join the Ukraine conflict as part of a reported agreement between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin.

Though these young, inexperienced soldiers, trained in mountainous regions, lack battlefield exposure, Russia has equipped them with modern weaponry.

North Korea wants foreign currency and potentially advanced Russian military technology through this “blood alliance.”

Analysts see this as a risky move by Kim, as significant casualties could undermine his standing. Many view the North Korean soldiers as cannon fodder, unlikely to return home alive.

  • Kwozyman@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    That’s still 10k bodies to throw in the fight, we shouldn’t underestimate or downplay their potential impact. After all, quantity has a quality of it’s own. I really really hope Kamala wins the election and the US (and the rest of the world, frankly) go all in helping Ukrainians.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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    11 days ago

    Basically, all Ukraine has to do is have soldiers put ‘free hot food this way’ signs in Korean on the battlefield and they’ll be able to capture platoon after platoon.

    • Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      Yeah but that hurts Ukraine as well and is likely part of the plan. Make Ukraine waste resources dealing with hoarders of defectors that are mainly old farmers

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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        11 days ago

        I really don’t think that’s part of the plan. It’s not like Ukraine has to keep them.

    • Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world
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      11 days ago

      That’s actually likely part of the plan, NK sends its worst troops first. Overwhelming Ukraine with refugees and asylum seekers while they’re trying to fight a war

  • Kyrgizion@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    I feel sorry for the poor fuckers. They likely can’t even make use of the defection process due to the language barrier. How many NK’s do you think understand Russian or Ukrainian?

    Let’s hope they don’t have to suffer long. They won’t make a dent in UA’s defenses though.

  • graycube@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    If the Ukranian numbers are to be believed (~1500 casualties/day) then this is about a 1 week supply of cannon fodder.

  • werefreeatlast@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    The Ukrainian army is terrified that the russians will start to duct tape north Koreans to their tanks to protect from drone attacks. Those drones have been effective but now with north Koreans on the hood, who knows!

    Worse if they start piling up the north Koreans into forts and walls. Like Voltron but for simpler wall-like action. Super effective if they all eat sand before going in the wall. You can also posthumously just fill them up with sand.