The captured North Korean soldiers, treated for their injuries and now in the custody of Ukraine’s Security Service, have provided new insights into the war. One believed he was sent for training, not combat, while the other was a seasoned sniper. Language barriers and forged IDs add intrigue to their presence in the conflict.
BY PC Bureau
Two North Korean soldiers were apprehended by Ukrainian forces during a mission in Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed. The captives, now under the custody of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), were treated for their injuries. Zelensky shared this update on X (formerly Twitter) along with photographs of the soldiers. Efforts to obtain a response from Russia’s Defense Ministry are ongoing.
Significance of the Capture
Ukraine has accused North Korea of deploying an estimated 12,000 troops to support Russian forces in the Kursk region. This alleged assistance underscores Pyongyang’s role in the conflict, which Kyiv sees as a significant concern. The interrogation of these prisoners of war (POWs) may shed light on Russia’s operations in the area and the extent of foreign involvement.
Details of the Incident
- The Operation: In a Telegram post, Zelensky noted that Ukraine’s Tactical Group No. 84 captured the two soldiers in what he described as a challenging operation.
- Identities of the POWs:
- One soldier, born in 2005, joined the North Korean army in 2021. He reportedly believed he was being sent to Kursk for training rather than combat.
- The second, born in 1999, had been a sniper reconnaissance officer since 2016.
- Language Barrier: Neither soldier spoke Russian or Ukrainian, requiring South Korean translators for the ongoing investigation.
- Documentation: One soldier carried a military ID in another person’s name, registered in Russia’s Republic of Tuva, while the other had no identification at all.
Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s humane treatment of the captives, contrasting it with accusations that Russian and North Korean forces kill their wounded to cover up evidence of foreign participation. “Russians and North Korean personnel eliminate their own wounded to erase traces of external involvement,” he claimed.
This is not the first indication of North Korean involvement. Two weeks ago, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that Ukrainian forces had captured a wounded North Korean soldier who later succumbed to his injuries, as noted by Yonhap News Agency.
These developments underline the complex international dimensions of the Russia-Ukraine war and raise further questions about Pyongyang’s role in the conflict.
