North Korean soldiers: the future protectors of China’s belt and road?

Intelligence reports from Ukraine and South Korea reveal that initial accounts dismissing North Korean special forces as ineffective in the Russian war effort were premature.

Far from the caricatures of malnourished soldiers distracted by online pornography, these troops have shown remarkable combat proficiency and unyielding ideological discipline – qualities that have not gone unnoticed by Chinese military analysts.

North Korean soldiers may be experts in small arms and close-quarters combat, but the vast plains of Russia demand skills they’ve not yet mastered. Trench warfare and drone countermeasures remain tactical weak points. Still, war is an unforgiving teacher. These soldiers are adapting quickly – or dying trying.

What most sets them apart, though, is their rigid ideological discipline, a trait that distinguishes them from the often disorganised and demoralised ranks of Russian troops and Wagner mercenaries. This is precisely what has piqued Beijing’s interest.

Rumours are already swirling among Chinese private security contractors. Some see North Korean veterans as a potential gold mine – politically reliable, battle-hardened, and willing to take extreme actions, including suicide by grenade to avoid capture. Such discipline is rare in the private military and mercenary world, where loyalty often follows the highest bidder. To date, only two North Korean soldiers have been captured alive by Ukrainian forces.