According to the Wall Street Journal on the 10th local time, North Korean defectors from the military said that the loyalty and determination of North Korean soldiers sent to Russia mean more than just mercenaries or bullet players.
Yoo Seong-hyun, a soldier-turned-North Korean defector who defected in 2019, told the outlet that if he had been ordered to send troops to Russia while he was serving, he would have been grateful and followed the order.
He also explained that when he was in the North Korean military, he did not have a proper meal like many North Korean soldiers sent to Russia this time.
He added that for those who have been brainwashed with their loyalty to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un throughout their lives, the dispatch would have been seen as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring money and glory.
As North Korean soldiers' loyalty to the regime and willingness to escape hunger are strong, there are concerns that North Korea may send additional troops to Russia in the future.
The WSJ said it is concerned that North Korea could send more troops following the first deployment, and pointed out that North Korea currently has about 1.2 million standing troops, the largest in the world.
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