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North Korea sent at least 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine. Which is fascinating, because one of two things will have to happen:
1: The soldiers, at some point, will be sent home. But they will have seen unimaginable wealth in Russia (by North Korean standards), as well as earth-shaking things like pornography. Ideas that could lead to real problems for the governing dictatorship; or
2: North Korean leaders recognize the risk and ensure that none of those soldiers ever set foot in North Korea again. One way or another:
From the West's perspective, either is a win (though obviously #2 is more barbaric). There is precedent — Soviet leaders dealt with the same threats and issues when their citizens traveled abroad and were exposed to un-Soviet life and society.
Any predictions?
Secondarily (and said before): Ukraine makes a dandy proxy war for the West — drain vitality from Russia and North Korea? That is a big win. At this point, I'd support the US financing mercenaries to fight in Ukraine. Certainly Poland, Czechia and the Baltics should be doing it as well.
Discussion (43)
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So the West is defined as war-mongers?
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That's why the Soviets never put a man on the moon. What would they do if he refused to return?
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I get very upset when I see this said. The Ukrainians are not anyone's agents. They are fighting to keep their already hard-won independence.
We diminish the simple fact of this situation--Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine--when we buy into the "proxy" argument.
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You neglected to mention what we did over the course of the previous thirty years. Actions have consequences.
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There are many more good questions. Some are considered here.
What is North Korea getting in return? What happens if the “elite” North Korean troops are shown to be mediocre? What happens if they win decisively? Win or lose, what happens if they are never heard from again?
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