Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine has seen it rely heavily on North Korean soldiers to bolster its efforts. Up to 100,000 North Korean troops are reported to have been deployed, with each soldier earning an estimated $2,000 per month—an amount that could mean a significant windfall for the average North Korean worker. However, experts believe that most of this money will never reach the hands of the soldiers themselves.
An Elusive Payday for North Korean Troops
Reports indicate that much of the funds intended for these troops are likely being siphoned off by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his inner circle. Bruce W. Bennett, a defense researcher at RAND, told Business Insider that “money coming from Russia is going directly to the party and then on to the Kim family.” This pattern isn’t new; North Korean state control over earnings made abroad has been well-documented, and there’s little reason to believe things would be different now. Hyunseung Lee, a former North Korean soldier, echoed this sentiment, stating in an interview with Radio Free Europe that soldiers and their families are unlikely to see any of the earnings.
The deployment of up to 11,000 North Korean troops into Ukraine—potentially rising to 15,000 with troops rotated in and out—could result in a massive outlay of funds for Russia. Yet, many of these soldiers face bleak prospects. Reports suggest that they are sent with little to no training and are largely unprepared for the technological and tactical demands of modern warfare. Lee, who defected from North Korea in the early 2000s, described the training they receive as minimal, often just weeks of combat training, with equipment unfamiliar and outdated.
Kim Jong Un’s apparent use of these funds to shore up his own regime and maintain loyalty among the North Korean elite is telling. The money, while significant for those in dire poverty at home, will likely be diverted to military spending and luxury goods, further entrenching his hold on power. This flow of money, at best, represents a short-term benefit for the North Korean leadership, not for the soldiers who have been dispatched into a perilous conflict with scant preparation or support. The true cost of this deployment will likely be measured not in the pay of the troops, but in lives lost and the ongoing suffering of the North Korean people.
