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Ukraine’s Psychological Warfare Campaign Against North Korean Troops. How Is Ukraine Implementing This?
The Ukrainian military is leveraging psychological warfare to target North Korean troops reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces, aiming to convince them to surrender and avoid unnecessary loss of life on the battlefield.
North Korea, a close ally of Russia, has allegedly sent up to 12,000 soldiers to the Kursk region in western Russia, an area where Ukraine has regained some territory. This deployment, reported by South Korean, U.S., and Ukrainian intelligence, is part of North Korea’s support for Moscow’s ongoing war efforts.
As part of its strategy, Ukraine’s military intelligence service launched a project called “I Want to Live” to directly communicate with North Korean soldiers. Last week, the initiative released Korean-language video messages on platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) and shared text messages on Telegram.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently confirmed that the first North Korean casualties in the conflict have been recorded. He warned that these soldiers are being treated as mere “cannon fodder.” This statement followed claims by a Russian military blogger that North Korean forces, despite being described as “highly trained and motivated,” are not yet being deployed in direct combat.
Initially aimed at Russian troops refusing to participate in President Vladimir Putin’s war, the “I Want to Live” project claims to have successfully convinced 350 Russian soldiers to surrender.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Combating Disinformation, revealed plans for additional Korean-language materials to be released in the future. Speaking to VOA Ukrainian, Kovalenko stated, “We are actively identifying the North Korean individuals arriving in Russia, the units they are joining, and gathering evidence of their involvement in combat against Ukrainian forces or their presence in occupied areas.”
He added that North Korean soldiers are expected to undergo training in modern warfare before being deployed in active combat, further complicating the dynamics of the conflict.
The Mind Games
This psychological campaign shows Ukraine’s multidimentional approach to weakening enemy forces, focusing not just on military might but also on undermining the morale and cohesion of allied troops fighting for Russia.
Ukraine is employing a targeted influence campaign against North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces, distributing Korean-language leaflets with illustrated instructions on how to surrender. These leaflets, delivered along the front lines, advise soldiers to lie face down, hold up a white sheet or leaflet, and abandon their weapons.
“Ukraine has been using such tactics against Russian forces since the early days of the war,” said a senior defense analyst. “They managed to get many Russian soldiers to defect, and it seems they’re now extending the strategy to North Koreans.” also noting that drones could be deployed to disseminate messages, either in leaflet form or via audio recordings.
David Maxwell, a former U.S. Special Forces colonel with extensive experience in the Korean Peninsula, emphasized the potential of psychological warfare. “Military operations aren’t constant—there are long periods of waiting, boredom, and inactivity,” he said. “That’s when loudspeakers and leaflets can have a significant impact, as they provide soldiers with something to reflect on.”
South Korea’s Role in Shaping Strategy
Earlier this week, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to deepen intelligence exchanges and develop countermeasures to address the presence of North Korean troops. According to experts, the South Korean delegation heading to Ukraine will likely include psychological warfare strategists, leveraging decades of experience dealing with North Korea.
Cho Han-bum, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, stressed that psychological warfare could be particularly effective against North Korean soldiers. “These troops have been mobilized without any personal justification for the war, making it unlikely they possess strong morale or resolve,” he explained.
Ban Kil-joo, a senior research professor at Korea University, spoke about South Korea’s unique ability to aid Ukraine. “The Ukrainians lack understanding of North Korean culture,” he said. “South Korea can provide indirect support, focusing on social and psychological tactics rather than military operations.” Ban also emphasized the importance of integrating South Korean advisors seamlessly with Ukrainian forces to maximize the campaign’s impact.
Doubts and Risks
Despite these efforts, some experts question the efficacy of psychological warfare against North Korean troops. Ukrainian author Mykola Polishchuk, who wrote Northern Korea in Simple Words, argued that most North Korean soldiers have little interest in politics and are unlikely to be swayed by counterpropaganda.
Meanwhile, Robert Rapson, former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, warned that South Korea must carefully consider its involvement. “If South Korean personnel are deployed to Ukraine, even in an advisory capacity, there are risks of being perceived as combatants, which could have serious consequences,” he said.
The North Korea-Russia Alliance
The deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia poses a significant challenge. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, North Korea has exported numerous ballistic missiles and over 18,000 containers of munitions to support Moscow. The two nations solidified their alliance in June by signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, pledging mutual military assistance if attacked by a third country.