A North Korean defector shared his experiences during his time in the Korean People's Army, shedding light on the harsh conditions and limited resources.
In an interview with Business Insider, Hyunseung Lee, who defected from North Korea in 2014, revealed that he trained soldiers from the Storm Corps, an elite military unit believed to be involved in the conflict in Ukraine. He described the grueling training conditions, outdated equipment, and severe shortages of basic supplies, such as ammunition and even toilet paper.
Lee, born in 1985, spent years in the North Korean military, where he faced constant propaganda and severe limitations. As part of his duties, Lee trained soldiers from the 11th Corps, also known as the Storm Corps, an elite unit now reportedly fighting alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine. In a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November, Lee criticized the soldiers as being caught in a “ruthless deal” between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, suggesting psychological tactics to target them.
His firsthand account of life in the North Korean army offers a rare glimpse into the country’s military operations under Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un’s father. Lee enlisted in April 2002, where he was assigned to the 4th Corps Reconnaissance Artillery Battalion, a special force responsible for infiltrating enemy bases and gathering coordinates for artillery strikes. The conditions were brutal, with inadequate shower facilities, poor food, and soldiers having to improvise toilet paper using socks, books, or leaves.
Lee revealed that soldiers received minimal pay — around 50 North Korean won per month — about the cost of an ice cream, forcing many to engage in illegal private business to make ends meet. Despite their hardships, Lee initially believed that the North Korean army could defeat the U.S. due to their rigid indoctrination and propaganda. However, he soon discovered that their equipment was outdated, dating back to World War II, and training was highly restricted to avoid damaging irreplaceable resources.
Lee also detailed the limited opportunities for live weapons training, as bullets were in short supply. In his first year of service, he was only allowed to fire three rounds. He later spent six months training soldiers from the Storm Corps in special tactics, including shooting, knife throwing, and martial arts. These soldiers, selected for their size and strength, were trained for operations on foreign soil, including airborne missions, sniping, and light infantry work.
While North Korea and Russia share some military tactics and equipment, Lee believes that the training the Storm Corps undergoes has little in common with modern warfare. He also mentioned that, during his time with the unit, they were given more ammunition, but their airborne training was limited to jumping off a model because the regime couldn't provide actual fuel or airplanes.
Regarding the Storm Corps’ involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Lee noted that language barriers and lack of proper training could leave them vulnerable. He expressed uncertainty about their survival and said the soldiers would likely want to return home as soon as possible, prioritizing survival over the mission.
Lee's account provides valuable insight into the inner workings of North Korea’s military and the challenges faced by its soldiers, particularly the elite units currently deployed abroad.
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