[Herald Economy’s Chae Sang-woo reporting] “Comrades! I miss you dearly. Please, never forget that I am constantly praying for everyone’s safe and healthy return,”
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s New Year’s message to North Korean troops dispatched to Russia has been revealed.
The prominent American daily, The Washington Post (WP), reported on the 19th (local time) that it had obtained what appears to be a New Year’s message sent by Kim Jong-un to North Korean soldiers deployed to Ukraine.
In the letter, Kim Jong-un praised the efforts of the soldiers and urged them to remain healthy and fight with more courage until they successfully complete their assigned military duties.
The letter containing Kim Jong-un’s New Year message was reportedly found recently in Russia’s Kursk region, where fierce battles between Ukraine and Russian forces have been ongoing.
The Washington Post noted that the letter, handwritten in blue ink, could have been sent to the soldiers from Pyongyang, or it might have been transcribed by a commander who read Kim Jong-un’s message aloud.
A small notebook obtained last week by the Ukrainian special forces from a North Korean soldier was filled with the lyrics of North Korean songs meant to inspire patriotism, such as ‘Songs about the Motherland.’
WP evaluated that this shows the North Korean troops are much more ideologically motivated than the Russian forces, as they carry such messages with them during their mission.
Additionally, WP reported that among the documents held by North Korean soldiers, there were many detailed records of combat experiences.
Among the North Korean documents collected by American businessman Ahmed Khan, who has supported Ukrainian special forces, there is a mention that the lethal capabilities of Ukrainian drones should be closely monitored.
One document stated, “In modern warfare with real-time reconnaissance and drone attacks, if combat groups are not distributed in small units of 2 to 3 people, significant casualties can occur from enemy drone attacks and shelling.”
The documents also reportedly contained criticisms that shooting Ukrainian soldiers attempting to surrender provokes the Ukrainian army and ultimately prolongs the war.
Moreover, it was pointed out that repeatedly incurring additional casualties while attempting to rescue wounded comrades on the battlefield was a problem. A Ukrainian special forces member who faced the North Korean soldiers noted that the North Koreans are “learning from their mistakes.”
While introducing the North Korean documents, WP pointed out, “They seem to be understanding and utilizing new technologies by detailing combat experiences,” and noted that North Korea considers its deployment to Ukraine as an opportunity to gain practical war experience in preparation for future conflicts with the West.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the estimated number of North Korean troops dispatched to Russia is around 12,000, with approximately 4,000 casualties as of January 9th.