Ukraine has captured 2 North Korean soldiers: South Korea’s intelligence service
Ukraine has captured two wounded North Korean soldiers who were fighting on behalf of Russia in a Russian border region, according to South Korea’s intelligence service. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of Seoul confirmed that the Ukrainian military captured the two North Korean soldiers on January 9 in the Kursk battlefield in Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also shared this information on the Telegram messaging app, stating that the captured soldiers were wounded and taken to Kyiv. They are currently communicating with Ukrainian security services SBU. Video released by the SBU shows the two prisoners on beds inside jail cells, although the authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.
One of the soldiers suffered a facial wound, while the other had an open wound and a lower leg fracture, according to a doctor interviewed in the SBU video. Both soldiers are receiving medical treatment. Additionally, one of the soldiers had no documents, while the other was carrying a Russian military ID card in the name of a man from Tuva, a Russian region bordering Mongolia.
It has been revealed that North Korean soldiers are disguised in Russian military uniforms and carry fake military IDs in their pockets. Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, believes that this tactic allows Moscow to deny the presence of North Korean forces in the conflict.
Despite reports from Ukrainian, U.S., and South Korean sources about North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in the Kursk region, Moscow has not publicly acknowledged their presence. Ukrainian troops only confirmed engagement with North Korean soldiers on the ground in December, despite initial reports emerging in October.
Zelenskyy stated that around 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict, although U.S. estimates are lower, at approximately 1,200. Despite their initial inexperience on the battlefield, Ukrainian soldiers, military intelligence, and experts believe that the first-hand experience gained by North Korean troops will only help them develop further as a fighting force.
Yusov emphasized the global significance of the situation, stating, “For the first time in decades, the North Korean army is gaining real military experience. This is a global challenge — not just for Ukraine and Europe, but for the entire world.”
The captured North Korean soldiers are a crucial development in the ongoing conflict in the region, shedding light on the complex dynamics at play. The integration of this information into a WordPress platform will provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the situation.
