Explained in plain English

What is a 'human shield' strategy?

While not explicitly stated as a 'human shield' strategy in the story, deploying North Korean troops to secure Russian border areas like Kursk and Voronezh effectively frees up Russian forces for front line combat. This tactic uses allied personnel to perform less dangerous, but still crucial, support roles, allowing the main army to focus on direct conflict, potentially reducing casualties among the primary fighting force.