I'm actually incredibly surprised Ukraine hasn't already. Russia has been using mercenaries the entire war, the involvement of north Korea is just a huge escalation.
They do have multi-national volunteers fighting right from the beginning. Enough to form a few brigades with them. The difficulty with them is the language barrier. Hard to lay out a battle plan and give orders if you need multiple translators to do it.
Yes there have been entire brigades stood up of British and US volunteers from the beginning. And they still exist today. We just hear as much about them in the news anymore.
They fought in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. Which is distinct from mercenaries AIUI because Ukraine is 100% in charge of the chain of command and takes full responsibility for their actions.
Yeah, but this passport was issued for the Dzun-Khemchiksky District. There are no North Koreans there. And the Russian name doesn't match the Korean one at all. Full passport pic here:
Last line plausibly looks like "Not Korean" in bad English handwriting. Looked at that for way too long before seeing the 3rd line from the bottom
It's Mr. Not Korean from Pyongyang Oblast.
Pyongyang Oblast is best Oblast.
Why is Russia even trying to make such a blatantly false denial? What’s their motive for telling such a ridiculous lie?
Ukraine has had a "no mercenaries" policy IIRC, if NK troops are seen as mercenaries then maybe it'll legitimize Ukraine shopping for manpower.
I'm actually incredibly surprised Ukraine hasn't already. Russia has been using mercenaries the entire war, the involvement of north Korea is just a huge escalation.
I feel like it'd beat conscripting prisoners.
They do have multi-national volunteers fighting right from the beginning. Enough to form a few brigades with them. The difficulty with them is the language barrier. Hard to lay out a battle plan and give orders if you need multiple translators to do it.
Ah, okay. Thanks!
Didn't Ukraine not have people coming over from the likes of the UK to fight and such?
Yes there have been entire brigades stood up of British and US volunteers from the beginning. And they still exist today. We just hear as much about them in the news anymore.
They fought in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. Which is distinct from mercenaries AIUI because Ukraine is 100% in charge of the chain of command and takes full responsibility for their actions.
I mean there's a whole Korean diaspora in Russia where they're neighboring countries. So stealthy they shared a border without anyone noticing!
Yeah, but this passport was issued for the Dzun-Khemchiksky District. There are no North Koreans there. And the Russian name doesn't match the Korean one at all. Full passport pic here:
Well, now, this ain't a passport, this is a military id thing
You're right, that got lost in translation. It's a Russian military ID, not a passport.
I don't see Dzun-khemchiksky there, it says Кызыл there, which is https://maps.app.goo.gl/x12xHeXohw6uCyzSA in both place of birth and issued by
I got them mixed up, Dzun-Khemchiksky was another one (that was also signed in Korean):
https://i.imgur.com/Xr4EOFl.jpeg
Some poor Tuvan conscript catching strays.
Actually I didn't realize they share an 8 mile long border. Russia wraps all the way around to the other side. But these troops are definitely bought.
Looks unclear to me.
Nice reference