Vladimir Putin may have one less ally to rely on as North Korea hesitates to get involved in war

North Korea promised last year to send '800 to 1,000' workers to assist in reconstruction efforts in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The original plan was to send the workers to the region in early November 2022. However, this plan did not materialise.

'The war isn't going as well as they thought'

On Wednesday 1 February, Daily NK reported that the North Korean authorities have not yet sent the workers to occupied Ukraine. Their source in North Korea explained:

This is because they were going to rush the workers over if Russia quickly ended the war and expanded its liberated zones, but the war isn’t going as well as they thought.

I think even our country [North Korea] can’t make its people run around a danger zone to earn money, no matter how important the cash is.

The source added:

You don’t just drop people into a construction zone. You’ve got to send heavy machinery and supplies, too. But I understand the situation isn’t good enough now to send them

The source believed that 'there will be a signal [for when North Korean laborers can be sent to Ukraine] when the war comes to an end.' However, now it seems North Korea has decided to make it up to Russia by sending military and security personnel instead.

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Soldiers and police personnel to be sent

Yesterday, 2 February, Daily NK reported that North Korea’s government ordered North Korean trading companies in Russia to choose personnel to send to occupied regions in Ukraine. According to their source in Russia, the order was issued on 20 January to several trading companies.

The trading companies are affiliated with military or public security agencies, so it seems North Korea wants to send soldiers or police personnel rather than civilians. This may be because the government is more capable of controlling and safeguarding soldiers and public security personnel as opposed to civilians.

The chosen personnel are young men aged between 19 and 27; most are married, and thus must leave their families behind. North Korean authorities select these men to prevent defections.

According to Daily NK’s source, companies have until the end of January to finalise their personnel selections. It is likely North Korea will send the personnel in mid-February or March.

While it is not known exactly how many personnel will be sent, it is believed the first batch will be approximately 300 to 500 men. It is also not known what tasks the personnel will be given.

However, the agreement between the two countries allegedly includes clauses not to involve North Koreans in the actual war, as this could make it seem like Pyongyang has sent mercenaries to Russia.

It is believed the selected personnel will participate in reconstruction efforts, repairing buildings and roads destroyed in the conflict.

Sources used:

- Daily NK: 'N. Korea finalizes selection of workers to join reconstruction efforts in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine'

- Daily NK: 'Pyongyang delays sending of workers to eastern Ukraine due to security concerns'

- Daily NK: 'N. Korea orders trading companies in Russia to select personnel to send to Ukraine'

- Daily Beast: 'Even North Korea Just Noticed Russia’s War in Ukraine ‘Isn’t Going So Well’'

- Business Insider: 'Even North Korea — one of Putin's last remaining allies — is backing away from helping Russia with its disastrous war with Ukraine'