South Korea Confirms Ukraine Captured North Korean Soldiers in Russia

South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) has supported Ukraine's report that two North Korean soldiers were captured on January 9 during the fighting in Russia's Kursk region. The confirmation comes amidst accusations from Ukraine, the United States, and South Korea that North Korea has dispatched over 10,000 soldiers to reinforce Russian military efforts.

Ukrainian intelligence released a video of the captured soldiers, showing them recuperating in a medical facility. One soldier appeared to have bandaged hands and a broken leg, while the other had injuries to his jaw. According to reports, the captured soldiers claimed they were professional military personnel, with one alleging that he had been sent to Russia under the pretext of receiving military training.

The NIS reported that one of the captured troops revealed during questioning that after arriving in Russia in November, he had undergone military training with Russian soldiers, only to discover he was actually being deployed to combat. This soldier indicated that North Korean forces had faced substantial casualties in battle. The NIS also noted that the soldier was deprived of food and water for several days before his capture. Moving forward, the agency plans to collaborate with Ukrainian intelligence to gather further information regarding North Korean military involvement in Ukraine. As of now, there has been no response from either Russian or North Korean authorities regarding these claims.