When Hyun-Seung Lee was 17, he was conscripted into the North Korean army. Meals were basic and conditions were poor. Hyun-Seung Lee, now living as a defector in the US, believes North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia in Ukraine are gaining invaluable experience from the conflict.
The presence of North Korea’s military in Ukraine is the latest chapter in the long relationship between Russia and the “hermit kingdom.” The relationship means a lot for Kim Jong-un’s ambitions in terms of nuclear weapons and strengthens a broader autocratic alliance.
[Image: Kim Jong-un with North Korean military officers]
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/sep/02/north-korea-opportunity-ukraine-podcast
