Ukrainian forces capture North Korean soldier in Kursk region - South Korea's intelligence
Photo: The Ukrainian Armed Forces captured a DPRK soldier in Russia (Getty Images)
South Korean intelligence has confirmed reports of a wounded North Korean soldier being captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region. The news of the capture surfaced on Ukrainian media outlets the previous evening, reports Yonhap News Agency.
The largest South Korean news agency stated on Friday, December 27, that the wounded North Korean soldier had been captured alive.
"Through real-time information sharing with a friendly nation's intelligence organization, (we) confirmed the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier and plans to thoroughly examine the subsequent development," the National Intelligence Service said in a brief release, as quoted by Yonhap.
Information about the capture of the first DPRK soldier
On the evening of December 26, reports began circulating online, accompanied by a photograph, suggesting that Ukrainian Special Operations Forces had likely captured the first North Korean soldier sent to fight alongside Russian forces.
This was reported, among others, by the Telegram channel the_warshal18 and the Militarnyi. The relevant photos were also shared.
According to the Telegram channel's posts, this North Korean soldier appeared to have been wounded. However, no detailed information about his condition was provided.
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In the Kursk region, the Special Operations Forces captured a DPRK soldier and seized other trophies (photo: mil.in.ua and a screenshot of t.me/the_warshal18)
In the Kursk region, the Special Operations Forces captured a DPRK soldier and seized other trophies (photo: mil.in.ua and a screenshot of t.me/the_warshal18)
"The Special Operations Forces conducted an operation to eliminate the enemy in the Kursk direction. In addition to successfully completing the mission, there were also trophies: prisoners, including a mercenary from Korea, as well as an armored personnel carrier equipped with anti-cumulative protection," stated the Ukrainian media.
It is important to note that prior to this, there had been no reports of North Korean soldiers being captured while assisting Russia in its fight against Ukraine. If confirmed, this would mark the first addition to the "exchange pool" of North Korean soldiers.
DPRK troops fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine
According to South Korean officials, around 11,000 North Korean soldiers have already been sent to Russia. After training and preparation, some of them were deployed to the Kursk region to join the Russian army in battles against Ukrainian Defense Forces.
On December 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia had begun deploying North Korean soldiers to the fighting in the Kursk region.
Earlier, South Korean intelligence reported that at least 100 North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia had been killed, and another 1,000 were injured during intense fighting with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
On December 26, Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine noted that North Korean troops in the Kursk region continued to suffer losses.
In addition, South Korean intelligence recently stated that North Korea may supply Russia with kamikaze drones and additional troops.
