This is John Batchel, a conversation with David Maxwell of the Center for Asia-Pacific Strategy,

about the reports that North Korean combat troops have deployed in Ukraine.

David looks at the reports that are credible, analyzes them on the basis of how they may be being used,

and comes to the conclusion that this is the worst possible for the North Koreans,

for the Russians certainly to claim that they're making success,

and for Korea back home listening in to the reports of the North Korean combat troops.

Here's David Maxwell commenting on very bad, very reliable reports of how the North Koreans are being used.

More of this later.

I do believe, though, it is accurate to say that there are some North Korean troops who have

been engaged in combat and are in Russia in the Kirk's region.

And one of the reports that I think is interesting is that, you know, North Korean troops in Russian uniforms, trying to be passed off as Russian Asians, and most importantly, they're scattered, supposedly scattered,

integrated along 1,500

kilometers of the front line.

And what that tells me, if that's the case, they are not employing the North Korean

forces as individual units, as intact units, to take advantage of whatever strengths they

might have.

And they are using them as replacements, which could give credence to the words that people

have been using to describe them as cannon fodder.

And so if that's the case, employing them as replacements in Russian units is the worst way to employ these forces.

If they're special operations forces, they should be employed in accordance with special

operations, missions, and capabilities.

If they are infantry forces that are adept at combined arms maneuver, tanks, infantry, artillery,

...