Ukraine Captures North Korean Soldiers Amid Ongoing Conflict in Kursk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Ukrainian forces have captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russian troops in the Kursk border region. This development follows Ukraine’s renewed attacks aimed at retaining ground captured during a rapid incursion in August, marking the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II.
Ongoing Conflict and Counterattacks
Ukraine’s efforts to hold its positions in Kursk have been met with fierce counterattacks from Moscow, resulting in significant casualties for Ukrainian forces and the recapture of over 40% of the 984 square kilometers (380 square miles) initially seized by Ukraine. Zelenskyy reported that the captured North Korean soldiers, despite being wounded, are in Kyiv and are communicating with Ukrainian security services.
Details of the Capture
Zelenskyy shared photos of the two soldiers, who were shown resting on cots with bandages. He emphasized that capturing them alive was a challenging task, noting that Russian and North Korean forces had attempted to hide the presence of North Korean soldiers by eliminating wounded comrades to prevent their capture and subsequent interrogation.
Intelligence and Communication
Ukraine’s security service (SBU) provided additional information about the captured soldiers. One soldier had no identification, while the other possessed a Russian military ID card from the region of Tuva, which borders Mongolia. Communication with the soldiers is facilitated through Korean translators in collaboration with South Korean intelligence, as they do not speak Ukrainian, English, or Russian.
One of the captured soldiers reportedly claimed he was misled into believing he was going to Russia for training, rather than to engage in combat against Ukraine. The SBU confirmed that both soldiers are receiving medical care in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and are being investigated with the assistance of South Korean intelligence.
North Korean Military Involvement
A senior Ukrainian military official previously estimated that a few hundred North Korean troops fighting with Russian forces in Kursk have been killed or wounded. This estimate follows reports that North Korea had dispatched between 10,000 to 12,000 troops to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The White House and Pentagon confirmed last month that North Korean forces are actively engaged in frontline combat, primarily in infantry roles, and have been operating both alongside Russian units and independently in the Kursk region.