Russian troops are about to join the North Korean military...a gathering of thousands

■ Host: Anchor Jeong Jin-hyung, anchor Lee Eun-sol, anchor
■ Starring: Jeon In-beom, former Special Warfare Commander, retired Army Lieutenant General

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN New Square 8PM] when quoting.


[Anchor]
The North Korean military dispatched to Russia just came in. NATO's head confirms North Korea's dispatch of troops to Kursk, Russia This kind of breaking news came in. Thousands of North Korean troops sent to Russia are about to participate in the war, and these reports are coming out directly, so let's take a look at the related news with the former Special Forces Commander, who is a lieutenant general in the Army. How are you? I just heard the breaking news. NATO has also officially confirmed that North Korean troops have been dispatched to Kursk, Russia, and so far, thousands of North Korean soldiers are now a battleground, they've been deployed to Kursk, they've been dispatched to the front line, and among them, they're going to the front line. You can feel that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is very urgent, but you can see the North Korean military in the war soon, so what exactly do you think the timing will be?

[Former criminal]
Now Russia is quite struggling within the Kursk breakthrough. Of course, they claim that they surrounded the Ukrainian army, but in general, the Ukrainian army is doing well there and the Russian military is doing a lot of damage, so Russia will want to deploy it as soon as possible.
On the other hand, North Korean soldiers who are currently operating there or commanders will try to have as much time as possible. That's why we'll have to wait and see. However, I think I'll wait and use it as early as the 15th and for about 3 months, but we'll have to wait and see.

[Anchor]
Why is that?

[Former criminal]
You have to fully learn the battlefield situation before you put it in, but if you put it in unconditionally, it's very dangerous. Even if you look at a warrior, smart commanders give you easy tasks first to gain experience and then try to have as much time as possible because if you just put them in right away, there will be a lot of casualties.

[Anchor]
Then, you think it's unusual to put the North Korean military in a fierce battleground this time, right?

[Former criminal]
I think you're sending it to the most difficult place, but there's one more thing we need to keep in mind. If you look at the warriors, it would be wise for us to be patient with these things because of the enemy's poor operational security or whether they are shedding like that on purpose.

[Anchor]
According to the breaking news that just came in, the head of NATO officially confirmed the dispatch of North Korean troops to Kursk, Russia, what does this mean? So far, it hasn't been confirmed in NATO?

[Former criminal]
So, it's not enough to announce it accurately, but actually, that's part of it, right? The first thing we learn from soldiers is that the first report is always wrong. So, even though NATO reported it like that, the scale and where it is still not exactly indicated, so we'll have to keep looking at it.

[Anchor]
We will deliver the exact size and location once again as soon as we additionally cover it. What do you think about the possibility of North Korean soldiers going to the Donbas region, which is occupied by Russia, and eastern Ukraine, not the Kursk region, to strengthen their offensive?

[Former criminal]
I have enough. As I just said, it's possible that all the sounds were going to Kursk, but they actually put them into the eastern part of the country. In any case, I don't think it's very likely that you're going to be in combat right away because you need an adaptation period regardless of where you go.

[Anchor]
It doesn't seem very likely that they will be put into combat right now. But if we actually assume that if North Korean troops are deployed in areas where fighting takes place, wouldn't there be a lot of casualties among North Korean soldiers? If that happens, there could be prisoners among North Korean soldiers, and some of them could surrender, so how should Korea respond then? I think there's talk about the monitoring team.

[Former criminal]
The mission and role of the North Korean military have not yet been accurately identified. It's not clear whether you're going to support the battle or just support the battle. But for example, as the anchor said, if you go to the front line as a combat agent, there will be a lot of casualties and then prisoners. In this situation, we actually have a lot of intelligence to gain. I'm very curious about how you guys got selected, how you got here, what kind of training you received, and how was your life in North Korea? So you shouldn't miss that opportunity because it's a great opportunity to acquire these things. And they're monitoring it now, but in fact, it feels a little late. The war between Ukraine and Russia is a new type of battle because we sent observers earlier. Especially the drone war. It's best to see how it's unfolding now, what characteristics it has, and how it can be defended now. And you can't send one or two people. Also, especially as it has been reported now, isn't it capable of North Korean weapons? That's just a flowing story, and there are many things to see in person why it didn't explode and why it exploded if it did. So because it's a report of information, we should have gone and seen those things earlier.

[Anchor]
It feels late, but what role will you play locally if you go?

[Former criminal]
As I just said, the lessons that can be learned from war and these things can be learned directly. Then there are weapons performances, especially those of North Korea, and how weapons are currently being used, especially electronic electronic equipment. It's a great opportunity to get these things like radar, jamming equipment, and how they operate and how Ukraine is doing well now.

[Anchor]
I see. There are various evaluations of North Korean soldiers now, but they seem to be different. There is a possibility that they are new recruits in their teens and early 20s, but some point out that this is somewhat dwarfed to be called a storm troop or special forces, and whether their physical conditions are correct.

[Former criminal]
They say small peppers are spicy. So from my experience, it's good for these muscular soldiers to carry their luggage, but not necessarily in combat. So it doesn't mean that you're small, but some reports say that you have poor equipment and no combat experience, but you're healthy. Then, it is very dangerous to make such a hasty judgment, especially to underestimate the enemy, because we are showing that North Korean soldiers are small and cannot eat and walk properly. So this is a good opportunity for us to learn about North Korea and the North Korean military.

[Anchor]
Now, the North Korean military has been officially dispatched from the battlefield, and these are officially confirmed, so I'm curious about how our country's response will be. Earlier, in Korea, we will respond step by step, but one of them is considering supporting lethal weapons. At what point will the support for lethal weapons be provided?

[Former criminal]
For now, the government is working closely with NATO countries, including the United States. I think I'm doing a very, very important stage one activity. In the meantime, if Russia provides North Korea with those technologies that can kill us, the first is that it will provide these technologies, especially those related to nuclear weapons, which are not easy to find evidence. So there's a problem like that. There are a lot of things that need to be done in advance to send our combat troops there. In particular, the United States is not sending troops, but I don't think we are at the stage of sending troops. So rather than that, I'd rather have defensive weapons, anti-aircraft missiles, and then air defense weapons that shoot down fighter jets or enemy missiles. Next, the Korean people cannot go to Ukraine now because of the passport law. For example, the Korean people want to go to Ukraine as medical personnel for freedom and democracy. Or I'll fight. Then I think it can open the way for you to go according to your wishes.

[Anchor]
Then, are you thinking that defensive weapons will be provided first rather than offensive weapons that are burdensome?

[Former criminal]
Yes, all options are open, but I think we should take a closer look at Russia's actions, North Korea's actions, and public opinion around the world.

[Anchor]
I see. In fact, there is also a part where we are confronting about legitimacy. North Korea and Russia indirectly acknowledge the dispatch of troops and claim that it is in accordance with international norms, and the West, including us, is violating the U.N. Charter. What is the reason for this ground?

[Former criminal]
I think I'm setting my own cause, but I think it's very ridiculous. In addition to talking about the UN Charter, Russia itself is a country that constitutes the Security Council, and from there, ignoring the UN Charter and saying that there is no problem based on the treaties their two countries have signed, I think they are breaking international norms and putting the whole world at risk.

[Anchor]
Among what you said earlier, the biggest concern for our government is that Russia has told us about the transfer of nuclear technology to North Korea, is there anything else? Because North Korea already claims that it has nuclear weapons on its own, doesn't it? Is there anything else left to transfer nuclear technology?

[Former criminal]
Now, Japan, next to the Korean Peninsula, is directly threatened by North Korea's nuclear weapons. However, the United States, our most important ally in the past, is still called reentry technology and targeting to reach a nuclear warhead at such a distance due to distance problems. I need the specifications to hit exactly here. Since we need satellite technology that provides such things, for example, there is a concern that North Korea can take the United States hostage and threaten us more. That's why we are providing such technologies, money, oil, and food to North Korea, and there are many other small military technologies. Telecommunications, optics, electronic warfare, drones, and more, we are not the only ones learning the combat experience and drones that the North Korean military can gain directly from participating in the Russia-Ukraine war, but they are also going early and learning now, and their weapons are getting better. So there can be a lot of direct and indirect gains like this.

[Anchor]
I see. As I told you earlier, isn't Ukraine now disclosing eavesdropping materials of Russian military units to the media? Why are you carrying out this kind of operation?

[Former criminal]
From Ukraine's point of view, there may be an intention to receive more active support from our country through these things now. Next, we are watching all of them to North Korea and Russia, so it could be a warning. And they're probably just telling you what they want to tell you. That's why it's been revealed for a variety of complex reasons. In the future, we will receive various news, and it will be very important to filter like this with sound common sense.

[Anchor]
Now, the last question is that North Korea suggested the type of flight of the drone, which our country claims to have sent today, and claimed again that this is what the South Korean military sent. However, the South Korean military has repeated its previous position, saying that it is not worth replying to that, but in fact, in a way, if North Korea sent troops, wouldn't it be a situation equivalent to war? for sending troops to the war Nevertheless, these images that continue to provoke us, why do we show these images?

[Former criminal]
First of all, let's assume that the drone over Pyongyang is a self-made play. So if you look at it like that, North Korea is doing these activities right now, and because the South has been provoking it to build a justification for future casualties and such, we sent troops to maintain a closer relationship with Russia, even though it was a great sacrifice, and it is possible that we are doing this to do this.

[Anchor]
I see. Let's take a look at the Russian-Ukraine war, where the North Korean military's dispatch seems to be imminent. I talked with Jeon In-beom, former commander of the Special Forces, a retired army lieutenant general. Thank you for talking today.