Make a deal with the devil

Foreign tourist numbers at the DMZ have significantly decreased lately. Of course, it’s not the high season, but the drop in foreign visitors is quite noticeable compared to last year. The recent North Korean balloon attacks, along with the South Korean government repositioning loudspeakers for broadcasts towards the North along the demilitarized zone, seen as a psychological tactic that North Korea fears the most, have heightened tensions. Furthermore, reports have emerged about North Korea deploying combat troops to the Ukraine war, which has been interpreted as a threat to security on the Korean Peninsula. As a result, foreign tourists, who are now observing the situation at the DMZ anxiously, are visiting much less frequently.😭

Let us consider the potential impact of the deployment of North Korean troops to Ukraine on security in the Korean Peninsula. When we see Russian President Putin requesting not only 155mm shells but also troops from North Korea’s leader, known as “Rocketman,” we can infer that Russia is truly struggling in the Ukrainian theater. For Rocketman, who needs money for supplies and food, as well as funding to develop missiles and nuclear weapons, Putin's request must have seemed like sweet honey. This dictator has essentially made a colossal gamble, striking a deal with the devil. For the blood price of about 12,000 young soldiers from North Korea’s 11th Corps, the “Storm” Corps, North Korea is likely to receive food, energy, and promises to modernize their conventional weapons from Russia. It is highly probable that they have also requested key technologies from Russia, such as the re-entry capabilities of intercontinental ballistic missiles and the transfer of advanced Russian Sukhoi fighter jets to North Korea. This certainly poses a threat to South Korean security.😠

Particularly concerning is the prospect that the surviving North Korean troops will be redeployed as commanders to the front lines of the DMZ, utilizing the real combat experiences learned in Ukraine to invade Korea. This raises further alarms about South Korea’s security. Additionally, it is expected that the incoming Trump administration will put even more pressure on the South Korean government regarding defense cost increases for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Trump, showcasing his friendship with the North Korean dictator, might meet him again, possibly pledging to withdraw U.S. troops from South Korea—an unsettling prospect that could exacerbate the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

However, it’s essential to note that what North Korea’s dictator drinks might not be sweet honey—the consequences could be deadly poison instead.🙏 Approximately 30% of the North Korean army suffers from malnutrition, rendering them incapable of fighting. Not all four brigades of the “Storm” Corps are composed of members capable of conducting special operations. Most are light infantry, armed with light gear and personal weapons, designed specifically to infiltrate our rear during times of crisis or war—meant to be used in mountainous terrains. If these troops are deployed in the plains of Ukraine without mechanized equipment like tanks or armored vehicles, they are likely to be annihilated by drones or self-propelled artillery from Ukraine.

Moreover, the Russian military itself lacks sufficient mechanized resources, leaving the question of whether it can share any with the North Koreans open. When conducting joint operations with Russia, where language barriers exist, the North Korean forces are likely to become cannon fodder. In a situation of total war, considering that Russia’s daily casualty rate is about 1,200, the initial deployment of North Korean soldiers can only sustain itself for about 10 days, requiring a continuous influx of reinforcements, leading to escalating casualties among North Koreans.😔

As soldiers sent by the dictator, they are fighting, but what is their justification for doing so? The reasons behind shedding blood in a foreign land remain unclear. Just as the U.S. faced widespread anti-war protests during the Vietnam War due to a lack of justification for fighting, the North Korean military lacks a cause to rally morale and spirit. Particularly concerning are the younger soldiers of North Korea, composed of the MZ generation, who might realize, after experiencing the outside world for the first time, that everything they were indoctrinated with by the North Korean regime was false. This realization could backfire on Kim Jong-un's regime, potentially inciting anti-regime movements within North Korea.🙏

Additionally, if casualty numbers continue to rise, North Korean mothers, who often have only one child, may become opponents of the regime if their sons do not return from battle. This could pose a significant challenge to the regime, creating potential social unrest.🙏

Ultimately, this issue is directly connected to the security of South Korea. Therefore, it cannot ignore the Ukraine war or engage excessively in a way that provokes Russia. If Trump and the international community pivot towards strategic nuclear negotiations with the North Korean dictator, rather than pursuing the impossible goal of denuclearization, South Korea may consider expanding its capabilities for independent nuclear armament or enrichment technology.😕🥋👊

As you all love Korea, please pay close attention to how the South Korean government responds to the Ukraine war. (I hope to see many of you again at the DMZ.🤭)✔️