Some 18 North Korean soldiers are believed to have deserted the Russian frontline, with Kremlin fighters reportedly searching for them.

The troops were deployed in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk oblasts, about four miles from the border with Ukraine, when they deserted, the public broadcasting company of Ukraine, Suspilne, reported.

Intelligence officials cited by the broadcaster said the Russian military is searching for the North Korean soldiers, while commanders are trying to conceal the desertion from their higher-ups.

  • andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works
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    4 hours ago

    With how weirdly their army works, I doubt they have any chance in active warfare. Even if they didn’t plan fleeing, they are worse than cannon fodder, and deserting is the only thing they can probably do.

  • elliot_crane@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Fake signing up to commit war crimes in a sovereign nation and then use your deployment to escape the autocratic pariah state you lived in? Honestly that’s based af - good luck NK defectors!

    • MCasq_qsaCJ_234
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      5 hours ago

      An opportunity for North Koreans who do not work in embassies to leave their country more easily.

  • Carrolade@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Hm. Perhaps you don’t need to waste explosives on the N Koreans, just shell them with Choco-Pies, K-pop and notes that say any surrendering N Korean soldier will, after a brief interrogation, be given a plane ticket to S Korea.

    • CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      5 hours ago

      The problem is reprisal of whatever family the deserting solder has at home.

      The amount of control that the North Korean government has over the lives of everyday citizens is something that Trump and the alt right masturbate to.

      • andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works
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        4 hours ago

        If they are sent to (or have chosen to be sent to) active warfare they aren’t the top crop and probably already in the lower caste. And, if you think about it, if the dissenting mood took place in their particularly caring family, they’d be happy to disown and carry a burden of their child who fleed. And if they aren’t, their boy can allow himself to stop giving a fuck.

  • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    What Russia likes about North Korean Soldiers in Ukraine: Manpower!

    What North Korea likes about North Korean Soldiers in Ukraine: Money!

    What North Korean Soldiers like about North Korean Soldiers in Ukraine: Freedom!

  • Annoyed_🦀 @monyet.cc
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    9 hours ago

    Lmao so their plan is basically to escape NK. Really hope their family is safe but then it’s a dictatorship…

  • Lung@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    Is it still called slavery if the farm is “very big” and the boss has nukes?

  • zante@lemmy.wtf
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    6 hours ago

    What could possibly motivate Ukraine to allege opposition forces are deserting ?