Video Message to North Korean Soldiers: ‘You Deserve Better Than to Become Kim Jong Un’s Slave’

A South Korean soldier fighting for Ukraine has released a video urging North Korean troops deployed in Russia to defect for freedom.

The pro-Ukrainian international civic group InformNapalm shared video footage on Tuesday of a soldier identifying himself as a Korean national from South Korea who has been serving in the Ukrainian military for three years. A brown cap and mask concealed the man’s face, and he delivered his message in front of a Ukrainian-operated Humvee equipped with a turret. Kyiv Post reported that he spoke with a distinct Seoul accent.

The man highlighted the stark contrast between the lavish lifestyles of Kim Jong Un, his family, and the elite and the suffering of ordinary North Koreans who endure cold and hunger. He emphasized that the North Korean soldiers are being exploited as mere pawns. The South Koreans urged them to surrender by dropping their weapons and raising their hands when encountering Ukrainian forces, promising food, shelter, employment, and potential asylum.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed in March that 15 South Koreans had fought alongside Ukrainian forces over the past two years, with five casualties. However, the South Korean government has not officially verified this information.

In a related incident, Lee Geun, a former Navy SEAL captain turned YouTuber, was injured while serving with Ukraine’s International Legion in March 2022. He was later convicted for violating passport laws upon his return to South Korea.