North Korean Parents in Fear as Reports of Young Soldiers Dying Grow,
Posing a Risk to Kim Jong-un's Regime
Kim Dong-su
former North Korean diplomat
Reports of North Korean soldiers killed or injured in the Russia-Ukraine war have spread among local residents, raising concerns among parents with children in the military.
On January 24, the North Korea-focused media Daily NK cited sources in North Hamgyong Province reporting that rumors were spreading in Hoiryong City about North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia facing near-certain death. This has left parents with children in the military in a state of fear.
Sources say news of the deployment began spreading in border areas around November last year. Recently, rumors have rapidly circulated that some soldiers have been killed or taken as prisoners of war.
Sources reported hearing about the condition of North Korean soldiers' bodies, saying, "They were covered in blood, their faces so swollen they were unrecognizable," and "Some young soldiers died with their eyes open." They added that these accounts have deeply shocked local residents.
A source from another border area, Ryanggang Province, reported, "Many parents in Hyesan City are anxiously worrying if their sons have been sent to the battlefield." Some parents have even said, "Even if we're executed or exiled, it doesn't matter—what we hope for is that our son escapes and survives.“
North Korea enforces a "collective punishment" system, holding the families of those who commit serious crimes, such as defection, accountable alongside them.
A source said, "Parents who have lost contact with their children in the military are overwhelmed with worry and anxiety, unable to sleep," adding, "This isn’t just a problem for a few—it’s becoming a widespread issue.“
A report states that North Korean forces in the Russia-Ukraine war have suffered over 4,000 casualties, with around 1,000 dead and 3,000 wounded. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warns that at this rate, all deployed North Korean soldiers could be killed or injured by mid-April."
With news of the troop deployment already known, reports of heavy casualties are expected to emerge soon. This could trigger unrest in North Korea and threaten Kim Jong-un's regime.
Despite the risks, Kim Jong-un is pushing forward. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy recently stated that intelligence suggests North Korea may send another 25,000 troops. Financial incentives play a key role, with North Korea earning $2,000 per soldier per month—a significant sum. Militarily, the deployment offers real combat experience, while Russia is expected to provide advanced technologies, including ICBM reentry tech, nuclear submarines, fighter jets, and reconnaissance satellites.
Diplomatically, this shifts the dynamic from a U.S.-South Korea vs. North Korea framework to one including Russia on North Korea’s side. It also raises the possibility of direct Russian involvement in a future Korean Peninsula crisis.
However, parents' anger toward Kim Jong-un's regime—sending young soldiers to die in a distant war to maintain power—could potentially erupt.