A North Korean Soldier Captured by Ukraine Thought He Was Fighting South Koreans

Since North Korea sent troops to the front to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the communist regime of Kim Jong-un has suffered numerous casualties, including many soldiers captured by the Ukrainian forces.

What recently caught attention is that one of the soldiers recently captured by Ukraine confessed in an interview that his superiors had convinced him he was fighting against South Korean forces.

The soldier, identified by his last name Ri, revealed in an interview with the media outlet Chosun Ilbo that he believed there were South Korean troops on the ground. He also expressed his desire to go to South Korea once he was released.

"Officials from North Korea's Ministry of Security told us that the pilots of the Ukrainian military drones are all South Korean soldiers," Ri said.

Ri suffered severe injuries to his jaw and arm. He commented that most of the members of his battalion (around 63 to 65) lost their lives due to drone attacks and Ukrainian artillery. He even mentioned that he would have considered suicide if he had had a grenade, as he knows that being captured as a prisoner of war is considered a betrayal for North Korea.

"I'm 80% sure about my future. First, I will apply for refugee status in South Korea. If I apply, will they accept me?" Ri asked the journalist during the interview.

Last January, Ukrainian authorities released a video in which they interrogated two North Korean soldiers captured in Kursk. One of them also expressed his desire to stay in Ukraine, which is equally considered a betrayal for North Korea.

Kiev is willing to allow the North Korean soldiers to return to their country in exchange for the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Meanwhile, from Seoul, they report that North Korea has instructed its soldiers to commit suicide if they realize they are in danger of being captured by Ukraine.

North Korean casualties in Ukraine

According to data released by Kiev on the North Korean casualties over a period of three months (including dead and wounded), around 5,000 are reported, out of a total of between 11,000 and 12,000 soldiers deployed in Kursk.

Meanwhile, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that the North Korean troops sent to support Russia have not been participating in combat since mid-January.