North Korea’s deployment of the “Storm Corps” (11th Corps) to Russia has drawn attention due to its connection with a wartime scenario previously revealed by North Korea. According to reports, this military unit had been featured in a past scenario as a key force tasked with taking American hostages in South Korea during the early stages of a potential conflict.
On March 22, 2013, North Korea’s propaganda website Uriminzokkiri released a “three-day war” scenario.
It described a plan in which North Korean forces would conduct an initial bombardment, followed by the deployment of light infantry special operations forces to infiltrate South Korea and strike key military installations and industrial infrastructure.
The scenario also called for the Storm Corps to capture 150,000 American citizens in Seoul and other major cities as hostages. This is significant given that, according to the Korea Tourism Organization’s LA office, over 240,000 Americans visited South Korea in the first quarter of this year alone.
The Storm Corps’ primary role would be to swiftly infiltrate behind enemy lines, seize high-value hostages, and use them as leverage in negotiations. North Korea has increasingly emphasized the role of special operations units under Kim Jong-un, designating them as a separate military branch to bolster their capabilities.
However, the actual strength of North Korea’s special forces remains uncertain. Defectors have reported that due to chronic economic difficulties, even basic supplies for these units are often insufficient.
Moreover, North Korean forces have limited experience in joint operations with Russian troops, which could impact their effectiveness. Challenges related to unfamiliar terrain, climate, language barriers, and communication issues could further hinder command and control.
Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, commented, “The North Korean military has had no deployment experience since the Korean War, and their equipment and conditions are likely to have deteriorated. However, North Korea may see this deployment as an opportunity to enhance the combat readiness of its special operations units.”
In related news, Ukrainian media reported on October 21 that 18 North Korean soldiers, deployed to Russia, had been detained by Russian forces after fleeing their posts. Citing military and security sources, the report stated that Russian authorities apprehended the soldiers 60 kilometers from the point of desertion in Komarichi, Bryansk Oblast, on October 16.
It was also reported that about 40 North Korean instructors and 50 Russian troops were stationed in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, where the North Koreans were teaching the use of military balloons while learning modern infantry combat tactics from their Russian counterparts.
BY YEONGGYO CHUNG, YUJUNG LEE, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@joongang.co.kr]
