North Korean Soldiers May Join Ukraine Fight after Learning Russian

Recently, South Korean lawmakers reported that North Korean soldiers are learning basic Russian commands. This could mean they're being prepared to join the front lines in Russia's war against Ukraine. The US Pentagon estimates that about 10, 000 North Korean soldiers are receiving military training in eastern Russia. This is a significant increase from previous estimates by the White House. South Korea's intelligence agency is keeping an eye on any signs of North Korean military personnel, including high-ranking officials, moving to the front lines. The North Korean soldiers are learning around 100 basic military words, like "fire" and "ready, " from the Russians. But there are concerns about whether they can effectively communicate in Russian. North Korea has beefed up its security measures to keep news of this deployment under wraps. Officers involved are banned from using phones, and families of soldiers are told they're just participating in a "military exercise. " Despite these efforts, some North Koreans have heard about the deployments and are worried they might be sent to Russia too.Last week, Ukraine intercepted communication that showed Russian soldiers expressing disdain for the incoming North Korean soldiers, referring to them as the "K Battalion" and making derogatory remarks. There are plans to have one interpreter and three senior officers for every 30 North Korean soldiers, which some Russian soldiers found unreasonable. This could be a first for North Korea, making a significant intervention in an international conflict. North Korea has a large military, but most of its troops lack combat experience. While the Kremlin initially denied it, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin recently didn’t dismiss the idea at the BRICS summit. North Korea has stated any deployment would comply with international law. North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is currently in Russia for discussions, possibly about sending more troops and what North Korea would get in return. This news comes as South Korea's foreign and defense ministers head to Washington for an annual meeting.