In a startling twist within the ongoing conflict, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has confirmed that two wounded North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces on January 9 in the Kursk region of Russia. This revelation follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier statement indicating that the soldiers were currently under interrogation.
In a detailed statement, the NIS highlighted its real-time collaboration with Ukraine’s intelligence agency, the SBU. This partnership has enabled them to monitor and assess battlefield developments, including the capture of these North Korean troops.
The situation heightens existing tensions, as Kyiv, along with the United States and South Korea, has accused North Korea of dispatching over 10,000 soldiers to bolster Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. While direct evidence linking the captured soldiers to North Korea has not been presented by Ukrainian officials, the confirmation from South Korea lends credibility to the unfolding narrative. Notably, both Russia and North Korea have yet to respond to these developments.
During their interrogation, one of the captured soldiers disclosed that he had received military training from Russian forces upon his arrival in November, initially believing he was being sent solely for training purposes. He recounted that North Korean units have faced “significant losses” in combat.
The SBU corroborated this information, stating that the soldiers described themselves as seasoned military personnel, with one asserting he was sent to Russia under the pretense of training, not combat.
As the conflict evolves, the NIS has pledged to continue its intelligence-sharing efforts with the SBU, aiming to illuminate the role of North Korean fighters in the ongoing strife in Ukraine.
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