Moscow—On paper, the partnership between Russian and North Korean forces, forged in the fires of necessity during the Ukraine conflict, seems straightforward. Yet on the ground, simmering tensions paint a very different picture. Far from fostering camaraderie, the alliance has laid bare deep cultural divides, mutual disdain, and a collision of ideologies.
Russian Soldiers: “Godless Fanatics”
Russian troops, often recruited from regions steeped in Orthodox Christian traditions or at least a cultural reverence for spirituality, find themselves baffled by their North Korean counterparts. The tightly regimented, seemingly robotic soldiers from the DPRK operate with an almost religious devotion to their leadership—a stark contrast to the looser discipline and often cynical worldview of Russian fighters.
“They don’t pray, they don’t drink, they don’t even laugh,” a Russian conscript remarked, referring to the DPRK troops as безбожники (godless ones). In field camps, Russian soldiers have reportedly mocked their North Korean counterparts, questioning how anyone could fight for a system where loyalty to a leader replaces all other beliefs. Such remarks, however, have led to several skirmishes, with North Korean officers demanding “respect for their revolutionary spirit.”
North Korean Perception: The Lowest Songbun
For the North Koreans, the disdain runs equally deep. Trained from birth to view the world through the rigid lens of Songbun—North Korea’s social stratification system—they regard Russian soldiers as low-ranking individuals unworthy of respect. To them, the often undisciplined, vodka-drinking, cigarette-smoking Russian troops are closer to donju (North Korean slang for “petty profiteers”) than proper comrades-in-arms.
“We are warriors of revolution, they are just workers of war,” one North Korean soldier allegedly said, refusing to share a dining tent with his Russian counterparts. This attitude reflects a deeply ingrained cultural hierarchy that sees North Koreans, particularly those in the military, as part of a “pure” elite and others as подчинённые (subordinates).
Clashes in the Trenches
These mutual prejudices have manifested in more than just verbal jabs. Reports from the field indicate frequent altercations between Russian and North Korean troops over supplies, discipline, and even living arrangements. Russian soldiers complain that the North Koreans hoard rations and refuse to work collaboratively, while DPRK forces accuse their Russian counterparts of laziness and poor hygiene.
Even in the rare moments of cooperation, the alliance remains uneasy. Russian officers reportedly bristle at the DPRK’s insistence on singing revolutionary songs during downtime, while North Korean soldiers refuse to partake in Russian traditions like toasting fallen comrades with alcohol.
Propaganda vs. Reality
Russian state media paints the relationship as harmonious, showcasing joint drills and declarations of solidarity. But within the ranks, the cracks are impossible to ignore. “They are more like rivals than allies,” admitted an anonymous military analyst. “This is a forced marriage, and neither side likes the other.”
A Fractured Brotherhood
As the Ukraine conflict grinds on, the practical necessity of this alliance may outweigh the cultural and ideological rift, but the growing animosity threatens to undermine their effectiveness as a fighting force. For now, both sides continue to fight their shared enemy while harboring quiet contempt for each other—an uneasy brotherhood defined more by convenience than conviction.