Which North Korean troops are being sent to help Putin and what they're capable of: an expert explains

According to information released by South Korean intelligence, the North Korean forces heading to the front are not just regular soldiers but elite special forces assault troops from the Special Operations Forces.

This was revealed in an interview with TSN.ua by Fedir Tertitskiy, a lecturer at Korea University in Seoul and an expert on North Korea.

"The average North Korean soldier, such as a junior sergeant in an infantry company — there aren't many of them. Their lives are rather bleak, often consisting of studying the works of the leader under the guidance of a political officer, helping on collective farms, and participating in labor mobilizations," said Tertitskiy.

However, according to him, it’s not ordinary soldiers being sent to fight in Ukraine.

"It's the elite special forces assault units, previously known in North Korea as light infantry, and later as Special Operations Forces. These troops are typically well-fed and well-trained. But North Korean combat units haven't engaged in active combat since 1953, when the Korean War ended," Tertitskiy explained.

Previously, North Korea sent senior officers abroad, the expert added.

"These were usually senior officers, typically from the rank of lieutenant colonel and above. All of these individuals received personal approval from the leader or his successor to go abroad. Sending soldiers, especially officers, abroad is risky, as they could be influenced by "wrong" ideas and then potentially turn their weapons against the leader, which is the last thing the leader wants," Fedir Tertitskiy says.

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