World
January 12, 2025 09:57
kursk, russia - Two North Korean soldiers captured in Russia's Kursk region were found to have gone for education in Russia, thinking they were going for war, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Two North Korean soldiers captured in Russia's Kursk region have sparked global headlines after it was revealed by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) that one of the soldiers believed he was going to Russia for education, not to fight against Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced yesterday that the Ukrainian army had captured 2 North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region. He stated on his social media account that the two wounded soldiers had been brought to Kiev.
"All necessary medical assistance is being provided to these two North Korean soldiers like all other captives," said Zelensky, noting that their statements were taken by inspectors from the Ukrainian Security Service.
The Ukrainian intelligence service's statement emphasized that the soldiers were arrested in accordance with international laws. It was mentioned in the statement that the captured soldiers did not speak Ukrainian, English or Russian, hence translation was provided through cooperation with the South Korean intelligence service.
In today's statement from Ukraine, more intriguing details about the North Korean soldiers have emerged. It was stated that one of the captives, through an interpreter, highlighted that he went to Russia for education, not to fight against Ukraine.
According to the information obtained, one of the soldiers was born in 2005 and has been serving in the North Korean army since 2021, while the other soldier was born in 1999 and has been serving as a sniper in the North Korean army since 2016.
The South Korean intelligence service confirmed the capture of the two North Korean soldiers by Ukraine, stating that one of the soldiers mentioned that North Korean soldiers suffered significant losses in Russia. It was reported that the captured soldiers, who were found injured, were not in critical condition.
According to information from the BBC, approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Ukraine to assist Russian forces. South Korean intelligence suggests that North Korean soldiers are fighting on the front lines and suffering losses. While the number of casualties is estimated to have exceeded 100, this figure has not yet been confirmed.
The available information from Seoul indicates that most of the soldiers sent to Kursk were selected from an elite unit called the Storm Corps. These well-trained soldiers, although possessing "high morale," lag behind in technological advancements on the battlefield. In addition to close combat martial arts and knife throwing, these soldiers also receive training on making weapons from kitchen tools.