In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, an unexpected element has emerged: North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces.
Reports suggest around 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's Kursk region to support Moscow’s war effort.
This alliance, while surprising, has prompted Ukraine to launch a unique strategy to address the situation, writes Ziare.
The Ukrainian military has started a psychological warfare campaign called “I Want to Live.” The program is aimed at encouraging North Korean soldiers to surrender rather than risk their lives on the battlefield.
Ukrainian officials, including Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova, say the goal is to minimize unnecessary loss of life.
The campaign uses leaflets and videos written in Korean to communicate directly with the North Korean troops.
These materials explain how soldiers can surrender safely, showing them steps like lying on the ground, raising a white cloth, or holding up a leaflet to indicate surrender.
Vitali Matvienko, a volunteer with the project, believes many of these soldiers might see this as a chance to escape the strict rule of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and begin a new life elsewhere.
North Korea’s involvement in the war has been part of a broader deal with Russia. In exchange for military support, Russia has reportedly promised to supply fighter jets to Pyongyang.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has downplayed the impact of the North Korean troops, referring to them as “cannon fodder” for Russia’s military plans.
He acknowledged that some casualties have already occurred among the North Korean forces, though there is no evidence they have engaged directly in combat so far.
The “I Want to Live” initiative originally targeted Russian soldiers after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian authorities claim that it has already led to the surrender of 350 Russian troops.
Expanding this campaign to include North Korean soldiers is part of Ukraine’s effort to weaken Russia’s military capabilities while offering enemy soldiers a safe way out.
The Ukrainian military has also shared a video on its Telegram channel urging North Korean soldiers to surrender.
It promises them food, shelter, and protection as prisoners of war, presenting an alternative to the grim reality of the battlefield.
