Ukraine-Originated 'Fake North Korean Military Information'... The Silent Government [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Government Confirms Only Up to 10,000 North Korean Troops Moved to Russia
Intervention Inevitable Including Lethal Weapon Support Amid Information Warfare Turmoil

Although reports have emerged of casualties among North Korean troops deployed to Russia via Ukraine, intelligence agencies remain silent. From Ukraine's perspective, intelligence is being leaked to draw active support from the West, but there is no clear evidence. Intelligence agencies have not confirmed any information beyond the deployment of North Korean troops to the front lines. It appears they believe there is no need to get involved in escalation, such as supplying lethal weapons, amid Ukraine's intelligence disclosures.

On the 5th (local time), the US New York Times (NYT) reported that a senior US official confirmed information that a significant number of North Korean soldiers died in clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean forces. The NYT quoted the senior US official as saying that "a significant number of" North Korean troops were killed.

In response, the US government confirmed the movement of North Korean troops to the front lines but withheld public confirmation of the clashes. The NYT reported that a senior Ukrainian official remained silent on the number of North Korean casualties in the clashes. This Ukrainian official said the clashes with North Korean forces were limited and appeared to be aimed at identifying weaknesses on the front lines. These remarks came after the Ukrainian government publicly claimed that clashes with North Korean troops had occurred.

Foreign Media Citing Ukrainian Officials: “North Korean Troops Killed”

The Ukrainian military claims that North Korean troops are participating in combat alongside Russia's 810th Naval Infantry Brigade. The North Korean forces deployed at the front are divided into two units: an assault unit and a support unit, with the support unit responsible for establishing defensive lines in areas recaptured from Ukrainian forces. It is also observed that most of the remaining North Korean troops, aside from those involved in the recent clashes, could soon enter combat.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on the 5th that North Korean troops died during clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces on the 25th of last month and even obtained photos of bodies presumed to be North Korean soldiers. RFA said that a photo provided by the Lithuanian NGO 'Blue/Yellow' showed a body wearing a military cap with the North Korean flag lying on the battlefield floor amid cement and concrete debris. However, RFA reported that the face of the deceased wearing the cap with the flag could not be identified.

Photos of Bodies Wearing North Korean Flag Caps Released... No Concrete Evidence

An Omani representative said, "This soldier is equipped with an old Russian-made Kalashnikov rifle," adding, "At first, we thought the opponent was only Russian troops, but after inspecting the site with a drone, we discovered bodies presumed to be North Korean soldiers." He claimed there is no way to verify that the bodies are soldiers dispatched from North Korea, but argued that the circumstances make it plausible.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The organization claims that during the first clash with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region on the 25th of last month, all but one North Korean soldier were killed. The surviving soldier, captured as a prisoner, reportedly told Ukrainian forces that he was from the Republic of Buryatia and presented related documents. The Republic of Buryatia has a large Mongolian population, and it is known that North Korea disguised its troops as Buryatia natives from the beginning of the deployment.

No Concrete Evidence Despite Repeated Reports of North Korean Casualties

Earlier, the pro-Ukraine Telegram channel ‘Exilenova+’ released a two-minute video on the 31st of last month showing an Asian-looking man with a bloodied face wrapped in bandages saying, "We had 40 personnel, but all, including my friends Hyokcheol and Kyunghwan, were killed in action."

The Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) did not respond to the claim of 40 North Korean deaths, citing a lack of clear evidence that they were North Korean troops. The South Korean and US authorities have stated that "about 10,000 North Korean troops have moved to Russia, with a significant number deployed to frontline areas including the fiercely contested Kursk region." However, they explained that "the military and related intelligence agencies are sharing information and closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine."

Fake North Korean Soldiers Appear on Ukrainian Social Media

Fake news and unclear information are rampant, especially centered around Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian daily Kyiv Post on the 4th (local time), a user named ‘Intelligence Front’ on X (formerly Twitter) posted two videos, one one-minute and the other two minutes and three seconds long, on the previous day.

The user wrote, "A North Korean soldier who arrived in Ukraine to fight for Russia is surprised by the variety and abundance of food provided. He says, ‘I am eating on the battlefield. Look at this meat. It’s big beef and instant noodles.’" The user described himself in his X profile as an "independent observer" who obtains information from open-source intelligence (OSINT). However, the Kyiv Post pointed out that the videos he posted appear to show a soldier from China unrelated to North Korea.

Government Cautious on Weapon Support Amid Fake Information

Amid fake information, some voices call for caution in Ukraine's information warfare. The government has said it is considering supplying offensive weapons to Ukraine, which is fighting Russia. Acknowledging clashes with North Korean troops implies considering offensive weapon support. However, supplying lethal weapons to a country at war conflicts with domestic laws and is likely to lead to troop deployments necessary to operate advanced weapons such as missiles.

If weapons are supplied, it is highly likely to lead to troop dispatch. The air defense weapons Ukraine is expected to request include advanced systems like ‘Shingung’ or ‘Cheongung-2.’ Cheongung-2, known as the ‘Korean Patriot,’ is a medium-range air defense weapon that intercepts aircraft and missiles at altitudes of 30 to 40 km. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said in an interview with KBS on the 30th of last month (local time), "What we want most from Korea is an air defense system."