Top Stories Russia’s Investment in North Korean Troops: A Payday That Evades Soldiers By mayukh - November 21, 2024 Image Credits: Pexels Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine has seen it rely heavily on North Korean soldiers to bolster its efforts. Up to 100,000 North Korean troops are reported to have been deployed, with each soldier earning an estimated $2,000 per month—an amount that could mean a significant windfall for the average North Korean worker. However, experts believe that most of this money will never reach the hands of the soldiers themselves.
An Elusive Payday for North Korean Troops Reports indicate that much of the funds intended for these troops are likely being siphoned off by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his inner circle. Bruce W. Bennett, a defense researcher at RAND, told Business Insider that “money coming from Russia is going directly to the party and then on to the Kim family.
” This pattern isn’t new; North Korean state control over earnings made abroad has been well-documented, and there’s little reason to believe things would be different now. Hyunseung Lee, a former North Korean soldier, echoed this sentiment, stating in an interview with Radio Free Europe that soldiers and their families are unlikely to see any of the earnings. The deployment of up to 11,000 North Korean troops into Ukraine—potentially rising to 15,000 with troops rotated in and out—could result in a massive outlay of funds for Russia.
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