North Korean defector issues warning to Putin about military plans

North Korea defector says entire battalions of Ukraine invaders 'will desert' amid brutal fighting

North Korean defector Hyun-Seung Lee, who served in the country's army during the 2000s, hasissued a stark warningabout the potential for mass desertions from North Korean battalions sent to support Russia's war effortsin Ukraine.

Lee suggests that these soldiers may have been considering defection all along, and this likelihood increases when they realise they are seen as expendable by their Russian allies.

It is believed that Kim Jong Un has sent up to 10,000 troops, including the elite Storm Corps, to aid Russia.

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Speaking to The Sun, Lee said: "It will be individuals at first but more like as time passes, I think there'll be like a larger number of group defections, including officers.

He added: "Russian soldiers don't respect them as their fellow warriors, they will treat them as their human shields." Such desertions could have severe consequences, as the North Korean regime is known for its harsh retribution policies aimed at maintaining domestic discipline.

Soldiers of higher social standing who defect risk severe reprisals against their families, particularly if their desertion is discovered rather than being reported as killed in action. According to the Express US, troops are closely monitored by a Worker's Party political officer who conducts daily ideological indoctrination sessions.

Lee, drawing on his own experiences, stated: "The main focus point is we have to sacrifice ourselves for the Kim family and the party, and the military."

He shared footage from Russia's Sergievsky Training Ground showing North Korean troops being equipped with Russian gear in preparation for deployment to Ukraine. Lee also recounted the story of a lone North Korean soldier who survived a Russian-led assault against Ukrainians in the Kursk region, in which he was the sole survivor out of 40 North Koreans.

"I would say, if Ukraine's government conducts a psychological strategy against North Korean soldiers then the chances are really high [of defection] because they don't have real motivation. It's not for money, right? They are not getting paid" Lee added. "And obviously it's [their motivation] not defending your country, and then your parents, and yourself. So it's just that they are mobilised by the North Korean supreme commander Kim Jong-un."

The deployment of North Korean forces remains uncertain, as they have undergone only basic training and been provided with kit and weapons by the Russians.

The effectiveness of these inexperienced North Korean soldiers in a Russian battalion is yet to be seen, as the two countries have no history of operating together as a military force. It is widely anticipated that the majority of the 10,000 will join forces with 40,000 Russian soldiers for deployment in the Kursk region, a part of Russian territory seized by Ukraine earlier this year.

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