Reports are mushrooming that a 10,000-strong force of North Koreans is being prepared for deployment to Ukraine, getting trained to fight on the Russian side. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski uses these reports – whose credibility is dubious – in order to mobilize more Western support for his country.

Although the Kremlin leader indeed needs more soldiers for his war, asking his North Korean counterpart for troops might embarrass Vladimir Putin in the end and make Kim Jong-un ashamed of his military. And here’s why.

Resilience and high morale

Sending North Korean soldiers on the Ukraine battlefield would face significant challenges despite their reputation for discipline, physical endurance, and ideological motivation. It is true that they are trained in discipline and hardship: North Korean military are known for enduring difficult conditions with minimal resources, a trait that could help in a war environment with supply disruptions and harsh terrain.

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Secondly, the North Koreans – like many Russian soldiers – are heavily brainwashed and have the ideological motivation. Deep indoctrination makes them loyal to their regime and willing to engage the enemy in head-on combat.

These are, however, their only strengths. The number and quality of the arguments against North Korean involvement in the Ukraine war prevail as the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine will expose naked the weaknesses of the Pyongyang regime.

Drawbacks and risks