Ukraine: Two North Korean Soldiers Captured and Interrogated by Ukrainian Forces

The Ukrainian military announced on Saturday, January 11, that it had captured two North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region of Russia. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the prisoners, though injured, survived and were transported to Kyiv, where they are currently being interrogated by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).

“Capturing these men was not an easy task,” said President Zelensky, adding that “Russian forces and North Korean supervisors usually execute their wounded to erase any evidence of North Korea’s involvement in this war.” He also emphasized that the prisoners are receiving “all necessary medical assistance” and instructed that journalists be given access to the detainees: “The world needs to know what is happening.”

Presence of North Korean Soldiers Confirmed by Kyiv

For several weeks, Ukraine and Western nations have accused Russia of deploying North Korean soldiers as “disposable troops” on the front lines. According to Kyiv, approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers, including 500 officers, are currently stationed in the Kursk region. At the end of December, Zelensky revealed that gravely injured North Korean prisoners had died before they could be questioned.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. presidency, estimated that at least 1,000 of these soldiers have been killed or wounded in what he described as “hopeless assaults.” Zelensky denounced this inhumane strategy, stating: “Dictatorships are sending their soldiers to die in senseless battles in Europe. These men suffer heavy losses, and their survival matters little to Russian forces or their North Korean supervisors.”

Moscow and Pyongyang Deny Involvement

Neither Russia nor North Korea has confirmed the presence of this military contingent in the Kursk region. However, according to Ukrainian intelligence, North Korean forces, primarily used for frontal assaults with minimal protection, are regularly deployed alongside Russian troops.

As investigations continue, the capture of these two North Korean prisoners could provide further evidence of Pyongyang’s involvement in the conflict.