Desperate North Korean families are shelling out over 100 times the average monthly salary to secure fake tuberculosis diagnoses for their sons. Their goal? Keeping them far from the Russian front lines, where Kim Jong Un has secretly sent thousands of troops to aid Vladimir Putin’s floundering war effort in Ukraine.
According to U.S. and South Korean estimates, as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers are now fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have publicly admitted to the deployment. But as Ukraine’s counteroffensive grinds on, it’s clear Putin is scraping the bottom of the barrel—and Kim Jong Un is cashing in.
A Dirty Military Draft
North Korea boasts a standing 1.3 million-man army, with another 7.6 million reservists ready to be called up. To keep its ranks full, men must serve 10 years, while women must serve five. Yet, as reports emerge of thousands of North Korean casualties in Kursk, families are doing everything possible to avoid conscription.
The cost of a fake tuberculosis diagnosis has skyrocketed from $100 last year to over $500 today, according to sources from Radio Free Asia. For a country where government workers earn just $1 to $3 per month, this is an astronomical sum. Families often turn to the black market for extra income, but even then, these bribes are a crushing burden.
One North Korean woman in Ryanggang province, speaking under anonymity, voiced her fears:
“If our sons are sent to Russia, we may never see them alive again.”
Her concern is justified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently revealed that 3,800 North Korean troops have already been killed in action. And with reports of death certificates being issued under false pretenses, families are left wondering what truly happened to their loved ones. The government labels their deaths as occurring during “sacred combat training in honor of the motherland,” rather than admitting they perished on foreign soil for Putin’s failing war.
North Korean Troops: Why Are We Even in Russia?
Back home, confusion is spreading. Since childhood, North Koreans have been indoctrinated to see the U.S. as their greatest enemy. Now, many are wondering: Why are we fighting Ukraine?
“Who is our enemy? Why do we have a new enemy?” a North Korean citizen told Radio Free Asia.
Captured soldiers have echoed similar sentiments, admitting they had no idea they were being sent to fight in Russia. One even confessed he didn’t know who he was fighting against until he was already on the battlefield.
Kim’s Long-Game: Upgrading His War Machine
Analysts believe Kim Jong Un’s involvement in Ukraine isn’t just about helping Putin hold the line. It’s a strategic move to modernize his own military. Alina Hrytsenko of the Atlantic Council noted that in the short term, North Korean troops are plugging Russia’s manpower shortages. But with tens of thousands of Russian soldiers dying every month, Pyongyang won’t be able to keep up with Moscow’s insatiable demand for fresh troops.
More Troops on the Way—And More Deaths to Follow
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff believe North Korea is preparing to send even more soldiers. The Institute for the Study of War predicts another deployment as early as mid-March. This next wave could see up to 45,000 North Koreans dying per month in Putin’s meat grinder.
President Donald Trump, who has long argued that the war would never have started under his leadership, is putting pressure on Putin. Last weekend, he threatened further sanctions if Moscow refuses to negotiate an end to the war.
For now, Putin’s government remains vague. A Russian spokesperson simply said Putin is “waiting for signals” from Washington.
A Grim Future for North Korea’s Soldiers
Kim Jong Un has turned his people into cannon fodder for Russia’s war. As desperate families go bankrupt trying to save their sons, North Korean soldiers die in a war they never signed up for—and one they barely understand.
Putin’s war is a meat grinder, and Kim is feeding it soldiers like fuel to a fire. The only question is how many more North Koreans will die before this madness ends.
