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cover of episode Why North Korean soldiers prefer suicide to Ukrainian capture

Why North Korean soldiers prefer suicide to Ukrainian capture

2025/1/14
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World in 10

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托比·吉利斯:根据韩国的报道,3000名朝鲜士兵在乌克兰战场上阵亡或受伤,他们的作战能力很差,并且据称他们接到命令宁可自杀也不愿被俘。 我很好奇韩国是如何获得这些情报的,以及这些情报的可靠性如何。 我们还讨论了关于朝鲜士兵宁愿自杀也不愿被俘的报道,以及这些报道的可信度。 理查德·劳埃德·帕里:关于韩国情报的来源和质量尚不清楚,信息可能来自乌克兰战场的观察。乌克兰提供的具体伤亡数字可能夸大其词。虽然朝鲜历史上确实存在自杀战术的先例,但关于朝鲜士兵自杀的报道的具体细节和发生程度仍需谨慎对待。 韩国在乌克兰的行动,其动机可能并非仅仅是为了了解朝鲜在现代战争中的学习情况,各方都有利用信息的动机。韩国可能担心俄罗斯会为帮助朝鲜提供军事技术作为回报,但目前尚不清楚具体情况。 关于韩国参与审问被俘朝鲜士兵,具体细节外界不得而知,但乌克兰可能先进行审讯后再与韩国分享信息,韩国可能主要负责翻译工作。向记者公开朝鲜战俘可能违反日内瓦公约,因为日内瓦公约保护战俘免受伤害、敌意、嘲笑和公众的好奇心。 本·霍奇斯中将:我相信关于朝鲜士兵自杀的报道,因为克里姆林宫不愿从莫斯科和圣彼得堡征召大量军队,他们不想看到大量的葬礼。因此,朝鲜士兵被用作炮灰,以避免在俄罗斯主要城市公布大量伤亡数字。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why are North Korean soldiers reportedly killing themselves rather than being captured in Ukraine?

Reports suggest North Korean soldiers are ordered to commit suicide to avoid capture, a tactic rooted in historical precedents like the 1996 submarine incident where crew members were killed by a superior officer who then took his own life. This aligns with North Korea's strict military discipline and propaganda emphasizing loyalty to the regime over personal survival.

How reliable are the reports about North Korean casualties and suicide orders in Ukraine?

The reliability of these reports is questionable. While South Korean intelligence and Ukrainian sources claim 3,000 North Korean fighters have been killed or wounded, the exact figures are difficult to verify. Wartime propaganda often exaggerates enemy losses, and independent confirmation is lacking. Historical precedents of North Korean suicide tactics exist, but current claims remain unverified.

What is South Korea's interest in monitoring North Korean soldiers in Ukraine?

South Korea is likely gathering intelligence on North Korea's military capabilities and tactics. Additionally, they may be concerned about potential military technology exchanges between Russia and North Korea, such as advancements in ballistic missile systems or nuclear warheads. South Korean intelligence agents are also assisting with interrogations of captured North Korean soldiers.

What are the potential consequences of Russia and North Korea's military collaboration?

Russia may provide North Korea with advanced military technology, including improvements to ballistic missile systems or nuclear warheads, in exchange for North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine. This collaboration could destabilize the region and escalate tensions, particularly with South Korea and the United States.

Does Ukraine's public display of North Korean prisoners of war violate the Geneva Conventions?

Yes, it likely violates the Geneva Conventions, which protect prisoners of war from public curiosity and ridicule. The release of videos featuring North Korean captives by Ukrainian intelligence raises ethical and legal concerns, as it could be seen as exploiting prisoners for propaganda purposes.

Why is Russia using North Korean soldiers in Ukraine?

Russia is using North Korean soldiers as expendable troops to mitigate its own casualties, particularly from major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. This strategy allows the Kremlin to avoid public backlash over high casualty rates in urban areas while maintaining military pressure in Ukraine.

Shownotes Transcript

As Ukraine takes its first North Korean prisoners of war, South Korea is claiming many are killing themselves on the battlefield - under orders to do so - rather than be taken alive. But if these soldiers are so dispensable how can they have such an impact on the war? And are the reports even true? The Times' Asia Editor, Richard Lloyd-Parry, analyses what we can and can't believe.

The World in 10 is the Times' daily podcast dedicated to global security. Expert analysis of war, diplomatic relations and cyber security from The Times' foreign correspondents and military specialists. 

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