South Korean intelligence on Saturday confirmed testimony from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and announced that Ukraine had captured two wounded North Korean soldiers who were fighting on behalf of Russia in the Russian border area.
National Intelligence Service (NIS) in Seoul he told AFP. “Ukrainian forces have confirmed that they captured two North Korean soldiers on the Kursk battlefield in Russia on January 9,'' the newspaper said.
The confirmation came after President Zelenskyy said in a post on the messaging app Telegram that two captured North Korean soldiers were wounded and taken to Kiev and that he was in contact with Ukraine's security service SBU. I was disappointed.
The SBU released a video showing two prisoners sitting on a bed inside their cell. We were unable to independently verify the authenticity of the video.
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In this unidentified photo shared by the Ukrainian military, a wounded North Korean soldier, believed to be a prisoner of war, sits on a bed in his cell. (Distribution to the Ukrainian military)
A doctor interviewed in the SBU video said one soldier suffered a wound to the face and another suffered an open wound and a fractured lower leg. Both were receiving treatment.
In this unidentified photo shared by the Ukrainian military, a wounded North Korean soldier, believed to be a prisoner of war, lies on a bed in his cell. (Distribution to the Ukrainian military)
The SBU also said that one of the soldiers had no documents at all, and the other had a Russian military ID card in the name of a man from Tuva, a Russian region bordering Mongolia.
Ukraine's military says the North Korean soldiers are wearing Russian military uniforms and carrying fake military IDs in their pockets, but Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence service, said the plan was linked to Russian government cooperation. It said it could mean that “a representative of the United Nations could deny the facts.” ”
Despite claims from Ukraine, the United States and South Korea that North Korea is sending 10,000 to 12,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in the Kursk border region, the Russian government does not publicly recognize North Korean troops. I've never done it before.
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Reports of a Ukrainian military presence first surfaced in October, but the Ukrainian military only confirmed ground engagements in December.
President Zelenskyy on Thursday put the number of North Korean casualties at 4,000, but the U.S. estimate is lower at about 1,200.
Soldiers are seen at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on October 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeon Chul-jin, File)
Despite North Korea's losses and lack of early battlefield experience, Ukrainian soldiers, military intelligence, and experts suggest that first-hand experience will help it further develop as a fighting force. are.
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“For the first time in decades, the North Korean military is gaining real military experience,” Yusof said. “This is a global challenge and is important not only for Ukraine and Europe, but also for the whole world.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
