Letter from a Former North Korean Soldier, Dispatched to Russia and Now a Deserter - Part 2

Don’t Sacrifice Your Life For Dictators—Choose Freedom Instead

Lee Nam-su

Former North Korean Soldier Dispatched to Russia

Continuing from our previous discussion, this is a heartfelt letter from Mr. Lee Nam-su, who was once dispatched as a North Korean soldier to a construction site in Russia. Having defected to South Korea three years ago, he now writes to console North Korean soldiers deployed to the perilous Russian battlefield.

Who are the real victims of this war? It is you and your loved ones. Far away in North Korea, your parents endure each day in anguish, shedding tears for you. Reports from North Korea reveal that many parents are becoming ill from worry, and the regime, in an effort to control the narrative, has segregated and closely monitored them. Your parents are yearning for your safe return. Dying on the battlefield is not what they dreamed for you. To them, you are their pride, their beloved child, and their irreplaceable family. Remember their tears and concern for your well-being. Let the depth of their worry for your safety guide you.

Your life is invaluable. It should never be sacrificed for the ambitions of a regime or its leaders. This war is not yours to fight—it is merely a stage for the greed and power struggles of dictators. You are being used as pawns in their pursuit of control, at the expense of your precious lives. The weapons of war do not discriminate; bullets and artillery shells strike without warning. Today or tomorrow, your life could be at risk. 

Modern warfare is no longer about brute strength or mental toughness. It’s fought with precision—drones and artillery targeting key positions with deadly accuracy. Soldiers like you, inexperienced and unprepared, are often the first to be lost. Don’t let your life end in a Russian uniform, far from home, unnoticed and unremembered. North Korea might label you a hero who fought for the party and its leader, but who really gains from such a sacrifice? As the saying goes, “Better to be a live dog than a dead lion.” This is your chance to make a choice. Choose freedom, not death.

There is another path. Surrendering is not a sign of weakness—it is a courageous choice. It is a decision to protect your life and strive for a better future. Reflect on what true freedom means, especially after growing up in a system of oppression. The life you deserve is not one wasted fighting for dictators but one where you can live freely and pursue your dreams. Death erases all possibilities. Your life is invaluable, and no one has the right to take it from you. 

Now is the time to choose life over death. As someone who once stood where you are, I deeply understand the reality you’re facing. Like you, I endured countless injustices under North Korea’s rule and felt trapped with little hope of escaping its oppressive grip. But I made the decision to break free. I chose not to live as a pawn for Kim Jong-un any longer and set out on a journey toward freedom. Every step was difficult, but finding freedom gave me back my humanity and allowed me to live as my own person, no longer a tool under someone else’s control.

You have a choice. No matter how difficult your current circumstances may seem, you can still make a decision. Your life is far too precious to be wasted in this senseless war. Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin only care about consolidating their power—they have no regard for your life or future.

Even now, countless people in North Korea suffer under Kim Jong-un's rule, as you once did. That suffering has only shifted to the battlefield, where your life is at constant risk. But this is your opportunity to end that cycle of pain. It may be the only chance you have in your lifetime. By surrendering, you can escape this war and begin anew. In a free society, you can make your own choices and forge your own path.

True freedom awaits. Unlike the oppression of North Korea, democratic nations offer the chance to pursue your dreams, regardless of your background. I sincerely wish for you to save your life and experience the hope that freedom brings. Freedom transforms you from an oppressed individual into someone truly liberated. I walked this path, and I know you can, too. 

I earnestly hope for your survival and that you will go on to live a free and fulfilling life. Surviving this war is your most important mission—it is the foundation of your future. Your life is yours alone, and the power to protect it rests with you. I pray for your safety and freedom as someone who once shared your struggles and has now found liberation.

From Seoul, your former comrade. Stay safe.