[News UP] "Defeated Death"... "Sending troops to Russia" North Korea, have you been sent to the front line?

■ Host: Anchor Yoon Jae-hee
■ Starring: Nam Sung-wook, Director of Korea University Institute for Unification Convergence

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN News UP] when quoting.

[Anchor]
There have been claims that there have been deaths among North Korean troops dispatched to Russia. A new trend was also detected in the National Intelligence Service's parliamentary inspection yesterday. Let's take a closer look at the relevant content. Nam Sung-wook, head of Korea University's Institute for Unification Convergence, is here. How are you?

The National Intelligence Service's parliamentary inspection on Wednesday revealed that it is confirming intelligence that an advance team of North Korean troops is moving to the front line, but today's new report suggested that the North Korean military has already been deployed to combat and that some of its soldiers have been killed. Do you think it's credible?

[Nam Sung Wook]
First of all, the expression that we are in the process of being put into battle is accurate. I think the expression that a dead person came out needs to be confirmed. There is a country called Lithuania near northern Europe Russia, which is an NGO of that country. On top of that, the representative of Oman used the expression that North Korean soldiers were killed. Actually, I wear all the Russian uniforms.

The Eastern people are native Mongolians because they are called Brat. I have a Russian ID. From a European standpoint, it's not easy to distinguish these people of Eastern descent accurately. That's why it seems that the expression of the death of the dead should be distinguished from the deaths of the indigenous and Russian troops of Brat.

[Anchor]
As you said, North Korean soldiers are also carrying their ID cards, so how can I check whether it is North Korean soldiers or not when this situation occurs?

[Nam Sung Wook]
In the end, if they eavesdrop on the conversation and what they're saying is Korean, it's definitely the North Korean military. If the deceased eventually takes off his or her military uniform and investigates various things. Because they all have Russian military IDs, it is not easy to distinguish between Buryat and the North Korean army simply by their appearance. In addition, if a large number of deaths occur, evidence from the North Korean military is expected to be identifiable.

[Anchor]
Yesterday, the National Intelligence Service said that although the North Korean troops dispatched are young, the combat power should not be considered low. What do you think?

[Myeongwook]
In Korean society, there are disparaging evaluations because they are 10 and more than 10cm shorter than us. I think we need to be careful. First of all, since they belong to the special forces of the 11th Corps Storm Corps, they have been trained for at least a year. Also, just because they are small in appearance is not a factor to denigrate.

It is still threatening, and if about 12,000 people reside there and start using weapons, they are simply young and short because their various powers are also not easy. It seems that we should be careful to underestimate the North Korean military only with these factors.

[Anchor]
Then it could be a burden on the Ukrainian military or something like that.

[Nam Sung Wook]
That's right. First of all, Kursk is now Russian territory, and there are about 30,000 troops stationed here because Ukrainian forces attacked it last Chuseok. And there are about 30,000 to 40,000 Russian troops stationed. So the two sides are in balance. If 12,000 North Korean troops end up in combat and attack Ukrainian troops, the balance of power is likely to collapse in the region and damage the Ukrainian military, so the Zelensky government and other Ukrainian authorities are very concerned about this issue.

[Anchor]
The issue of communication between Russian and North Korean forces has been pointed out over and over again.Ma is Russia's military language education. There's also this kind of talk coming out. In practice, can I see that you have a very difficult time communicating?

[Nam Sung Wook]
You take about 100 terms and there are a number of terms in the military that are basically left, right, and back. It's about memorizing 100 things. Hurry up and understand it in real life. However, it will be difficult to learn this term overnight. You have to do joint military training for at least three to six months to get used to it in practice. It seems that there will be a significant communication problem. Now, the Russian military is quite dissatisfied with this, even using the expression "Chinese guy" because one interpreter and three Russian military officers are present for every 30 North Korean soldiers.

Since it is not easy to take control of our own forces, will it be effective in preventing Ukraine's attacks in a timely manner when the North Korean military is assigned three specialized officers? Therefore, it seems that these problems will still take a considerable amount of time to adapt.

[Anchor]
There is a related breaking news that just came in. Let me analyze it. It's reported by CNN. CNN has broken news that a small number of North Korean troops have already entered Ukraine. I'm talking to the professor, how do you see this? If so, can it be said that only a part of the 10,000 troops were put into practice?

[Nam Sung Wook]
CNN reports about entering Ukraine need to be analyzed. Originally called Donetsk, did Russia invade south and enter 20% occupied territory or not Ukrainian territory, it's Russian territory, Kursk. I need to check whether it was expressed as Ukraine that went into it. The fact that it has been deployed to the front line seems to be a solid fact. Then where is the front line? Although it is Russian territory in Kursk, it should be understood that North Korean troops have been deployed to areas occupied by Ukraine last time.

[Anchor]
The news that North Korean troops have been deployed to Kursk has been reported to South Korea for a few days, but it may not be updated a little more than this, or you think there is a possibility that they could be deployed to other parts of Ukraine as you said?

[Nam Sung Wook]
In fact, I would like to use the expression that the U.S. intelligence authorities are going a step late regarding the North Korean military's dispatch to Russia. Because the U.S. presidential election is just around the corner, the U.S. is doing its best to end the Middle East war somehow. Therefore, the U.S. intelligence tends to be a little slower than the speed at which the Russian and Ukrainian intelligence authorities identify and inform our people, considering it as a problem for the person concerned. So CNN's report that it has entered Ukraine seems to report the news already reported in Korea yesterday with a little more precision.

[Anchor]
An update on the CNN report came in, so I'll give you a little bit of the relevant information. According to intelligence authorities, a small number of North Korean troops are already stationed in Ukraine. The North Korean military is moving to the front line of the war after training in eastern Russia.

And CNN reports that U.S. intelligence officials expect the number to grow. The presence of the North Korean military in Ukraine is a step further than what NATO and the Pentagon confirmed last Monday. CNN reports that 10,000 North Korean troops are training in eastern Russia, and some of them are heading to Russia's Kursk region.

Ukrainian forces have been occupying territory in Kursk since August. According to CNN reports now, U.S. officials expect the number to rise as a small number of North Korean troops are already stationed in Ukraine and move to the frontline of the war after training in the east. Professor, a small number of North Korean troops are already stationed in Ukraine, how should I view this expression?

[Nam Sung Wook]
Is it entry or stationing? There's almost a time difference, but it's an expression that went in. But as I said now, did this enter the mainland of Ukraine into Donetsk or a deprived area of southern Ukraine? Did you go to Kursk, which is the most fiercely confronting frontline right now? This is a situation that needs to be confirmed, but from the perspective of viewers, the troops in the front line of the North Korean military have begun to enter the area facing the Kursk Front and Ukrainian forces, so it would be accurate if you understand it like this.

[Anchor]
Anyway, so far, it's a small number of troops.Ma is known to have put in about 10,000 North Korean troops, so there is a high possibility that more North Korean troops will be deployed to the border area, right?

[Nam Sung Wook]
Of course, we use the expression mercenary, and Russia is the most difficult region in Kursk. Because it's an area where the Russian mainland has been attacked, there's been a lot of loss of troops here. Therefore, the deployment of the North Korean military is bound to be centered around this area.

The total number is 12,000 and 11,000. The numbers at the end are going back and forth, and since the basic training seems to be distributed from seven eastern military bases near Vladivostok to train and move at a fast pace, about 10,000 troops are expected to be deployed to the entire front line within a week.

[Anchor]
With the North Korean military at the forefront, the government is considering sending a monitoring team to Ukraine. It is known that it will participate in the North Korean military's conciliation and capture operations, so in what direction will it flow?

[Nam Sung Wook]
This issue is becoming a very politically sensitive issue at home. There's also opposition criticism. That's why the government used the expression "Jeonwoon Monitoring Team." We go there and look at the situation, and we work with the Ukrainian intelligence authorities on the issue to conduct psychological warfare, such as surrender to prisoners.

Second, if a prisoner surrenders or comes back, you can interrogate him in Korean. So, the government sent a delegation headed by National Intelligence Service Deputy Chief Hong Jang-won to explain to NATO, and after cooperating with the Ukrainian authorities, working-level officials are expected to play a monitoring role.

[Anchor]
Some say that North Korea sent a so-called execution team together to prevent desertion or asylum attempts.

[Nam Sung Wook]
It seems that about 30 North Korean officers were deployed again in one platoon, so what is the role of this officer? It's supposed to be an execution group. If there are no casualties in the beginning, this will not happen, but there is a high possibility of more casualties.

Because this is a plain area. In that case, they are known to run away, desert or leave, or lose their way when supply was not available, or in this case, an execution team is sent to each unit to prevent internal division.

[Anchor]
Meanwhile, North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Sun-hee visited Russia. There will be a meeting in Moscow today, but it's the first meeting since the dispatch, so I'm curious about who I'll meet and what I'll talk about.

[Nam Sung Wook]
This is my third visit to Russia this year. I met with President Putin in January and I met him last fall and attended various international conferences. Choi Sun-hee visited Russia this time, but according to the spokesman, there is no schedule to meet Choi Sun-hee in the presidential schedule, so there is no possibility that President Putin will meet, so we cannot rule out the possibility that Vice Minister Choi Sun-hee will meet Putin in a surprise move as the situation is approaching various complicatedly.

It seems that we will discuss the situation after the dispatch of troops. The first is whether to send additional troops or not. Will it end with 12,000 viewers? It seems to me that up to 20,000 additional troops will be sent. We will also discuss the end of the war in Ukraine after the U.S. presidential election, and the most important thing is how far and when we will receive military technology from Russia. I think this issue will be key.

[Anchor]
Some say that you may receive nuclear submarine technology for the benefits you deserve from Russia.

[Nam Sung Wook]
One of the primary things discussed is reconnaissance satellite technology. North Korea failed last year. I'm very interested in this. The second is the various technologies related to nuclear that you mentioned. This includes ICBM and intercontinental ballistic missile technology. It also includes the nuclear-powered submarine technology you mentioned. For North Korea, it is considered a useful military technology to put pressure on the U.S. only if it receives it from Russia.

[Anchor]
Yesterday's parliamentary inspection also talked about trends inside North Korea. The professor also said earlier that up to 20,000 people could be dispatched. The situation inside North Korea is known to be very worried and opposed to the spread of rumors about the dispatch of troops. It is said that the use of mobile phones is also prohibited, so what do you think of the residents' internal trends?

[Nam Sung Wook]
The public sentiment must be hideous. First of all, they're going to Russia. Why are you going? Are you going to work? No, I'm going to participate in the war. It's a mercenary, then there's a high possibility of death. Family members are bound to be really worried, so they have no choice but to control society first.

Part of the control is expected to eventually ban the use of mobile phones and quarantine the families of dispatched soldiers to prevent such rumors from spreading. However, if additional troops are sent and there are casualties, will such public sentiment control be possible? It's bound to hit its limits. In August, 1,500 people were displaced by the Yalu River flood, and various deaths occurred, so the flood damage is not well restored. It is harvest season in North Korea in autumn, and soldiers go abroad on a large scale when soldiers have to go out and harvest a lot of farming. Rumors that it will also go to the front line are expected to pose a significant threat to the Kim Jong-un regime.

[Anchor]
Is it because you're aware of that situation? Chairman Kim Jong-un recognized the possibility of an assassination and raised the level of security.

[Nam Sung Wook]
They would be very afraid to see Hamas leaders killed by Israeli attacks in the recent Middle East war. So, we are strengthening control in the process of quelling various internal complaints. In particular, since mobile phones have a considerable amount of radio waves these days, electromagnetic jamming devices according to mobile phone use have also been introduced. Various internal surveillance electronic technologies. Therefore, it seems that the level of security is being raised to the highest level by precisely analyzing the cases of Israeli attacks in the Middle East.

[Anchor]
There was also a mention of Chairman Kim's daughter, Kim Joo-ae. He has been frequently exposed in public, but he received a lot of assistance from Kim Yo-jong and Choi Sun-hee.

[Nam Sung Wook]
Choi Sun-hee is the minister, and the minister also bowed his head and assisted him. We also have the best protocol when we talk to the Russian ambassador. Also, I'm taller than in the past, so I'm looking at the status that gives me the feeling of a first lady rather than a daughter. The status has been upgraded.

It is receiving various external attention by using the expression Hyangdo. The National Intelligence Service also used the expression that there is a high possibility of a successor, but since Kim Jong-un is in his early 40s, it is still an early judgment that Kim Joo-ae will become the fourth generation leader from the day after tomorrow.

[Anchor]
In the midst of this, the president of Korea and the leader of Ukraine spoke on the phone yesterday. The two countries will exchange delegations and coordinate follow-up measures, so what activities should we do?

[Nam Sung Wook]
The biggest fact that President Zelenskyy will send a special envoy is the phone call. When the special envoy comes, information exchange is basic, but it seems that the requirements will come out to us next time. It is divided into defensive weapons and offensive weapons, and we supply basic humanitarian aid items such as removing landmines. The Ukrainian side is now strongly requesting offensive weapons.

There is a missile system called Punch 1 that intercepts fighter jets. It is a Korean Patriot missile system called Penggong2. This is to intercept Russian missiles. And because Korea's defense products such as K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled guns are excellent, Yoon Suk Yeol will now ask for such weapons to further attack Russian forces in Kursk, which the Ukrainian president also used as a step-by-step weapon.

We can't decide that we'll give you this at once. If Ukraine's ceasefire and the end of the war are accelerated after the November 5 presidential election, the possibility of an offensive weapon can be mentioned first, but it is not an easy decision for our government to express that we will provide such an offensive weapon just because the special envoy is coming.

[Anchor]
The South Korea-U.S. defense ministers' meeting will be held in Washington, U.S. on the 30th local time, and there will be talk of North Korean troops sending troops, right?

[Nam Sung Wook]
That's right. Since President Biden also used the term "a very dangerous act" just because it threatens the international order, the three countries of Korea, the U.S. and Japan collaborated on this issue and coordinated the issue through a meeting of defense ministers of Korea, the U.S. and Japan. How far will you end up sending weapons? In fact, one of the expressions from Washington after the dispatch of North Korean troops this time was that it would not limit the use of various offensive weapons, such as missiles, such as attacks for Abrams tanks, and that the North Korean military would also be targeted if the North Korean military went into battle as a force. So, what kind of weapons will be provided at the South Korea-U.S. defense ministers' meeting is likely to be established.

[Anchor]
I see. I'll stop listening to it. It was with Nam Sung-wook, director of the Korea University Institute for Unification Convergence. Thank you.