Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces stated that they initially believed they were taking part in a training exercise, only to realize later they had been deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine. On Saturday, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) revealed that the two soldiers, born in 2005 and 1999, were conscripted into the North Korean military in 2021 and 2016, respectively. They were captured in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.
The SBU confirmed that the soldiers have been transferred to Kyiv for further questioning. As neither soldier speaks English, Russian, nor Ukrainian, the SBU is interrogating with the help of a Korean interpreter, working in cooperation with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
One of the soldiers was found to be carrying a Russian military ID at the time of his capture. However, the ID falsely identified him as a 26-year-old from the Tuva Republic in southern Siberia.
During questioning, the soldier explained, “I received this ID last fall when our North Korean unit trained with Russian forces for a week. I believed we were being sent for further training, not to fight in Ukraine.”
The second captured soldier, who identified himself as a sniper, has been unable to speak due to a jaw injury. The SBU reported that he has been responding to questions by writing them down on paper.
Both soldiers are receiving medical treatment, and the SBU assured the public that they are being held in conditions that comply with international law.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the capture of the two soldiers on Telegram, stating that the operation was carried out by the Special Operations Forces’ 84th Tactical Group and Airborne Forces.
The SBU emphasized that the capture of the North Korean soldiers is clear evidence of North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine. This is the first time Ukrainian authorities have publicly announced the capture of North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region, along with their details.
The future of the two captured soldiers remains uncertain. Based on statements from Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, it seems likely that the soldiers will be classified as prisoners of war (POWs).
If Russia acknowledges these captured North Koreans as part of its military forces, the soldiers would be granted POW status under the Geneva Conventions, making them eligible for repatriation to Russia. However, if both Russia and North Korea deny their affiliation with their respective armed forces, the soldiers could be classified as unlawful combatants, which would mean they could lose any protections under international law.
While some have speculated that the soldiers might defect to South Korea if they wish, the situation is complicated by Zelenskyy’s previous comments. He has made it clear that all captured soldiers, regardless of nationality, will be treated as POWs, and Ukraine is prepared to exchange North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Intelligence reports suggest that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region since November of last year, with estimates placing the total number of North Korean soldiers at around 11,000.
Most Commented