‘I didn’t know who I’d be fighting’ — North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine speaks in new footage

A North Korean POW captured by Ukrainian forces during hostilities in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Photo published on Jan. 11, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram)
THE KYIV INDEPENDENT | Published January 20, 2025

President Volodymyr Zelensky released on Jan. 20 new footage of the interrogation of a North Korean soldier captured by the Ukrainian military.

Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast earlier in January. They are currently in the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Kyiv. Both were wounded and are reportedly receiving medical attention.

The prisoner of war (POW) in the newly released footage said he arrived in Russia on a cargo ferry with over 100 soldiers. He was not trained with Russian military equipment but claimed that several other North Korean soldiers were taught to do so.

He joined the army at the age of 17 and served on conscript duty in a reconnaissance battalion, and said his mother does not know where he is now. He also said he did not know he was going to war, or know who he would be fighting against.

The full conversation conducted via a translator is as follows:

Interrogator: Did you and other North Korean servicemen undergo training on the use of Russian weapons and military equipment? If so, where and when?

POW/Translator: There were a few soldiers from North Korea who were trained to use heavy Russian equipment, but I personally did not undergo such training.

Interrogator: Where did you serve? In which unit?

POW: (I work) in a reconnaissance battalion.

Interrogator: Does your mother know where you are?

POW: No she doesn’t.

Interrogator: How many people were on the ship that transported you from North Korea to Russia?

POW: Approximately over one hundred.

Interrogator: What kind of ship was it?

POW: I believe it was a Russian ferry, but not a military vessel — just one for transporting cargo.

Interrogator: Were only people on board or was there cargo as well?

POW: It was only us.

Interrogator: How many seats were in the train car you traveled in?

POW: The same people who were on the ferry were also on the train — there were no others, it was the same group.

Interrogator: Were there beds in the carriage, how many?

POW: There were six tables and beds. In total there were about 100 people.

Interrogator: Tell us about the beginning of your service in the ranks of the North Korean armed forces. Specifically, when did you begin your military service? How did it happen and so on? Where did you serve?

POW: Typically, after finishing school all men join the military. I also joined the army after finishing school and joined the reconnaissance division and stayed there for my entire service.

Interrogator: How old were you when you started your service?

POW: I was 17 years old.

Interrogator: Are you serving under contract or conscription?

POW: Not under contract, conscription.

‘He wanted to live’ — How Ukraine captured a North Korean POW, told by the soldiers who took part

Interrogator: Do you voluntarily wish to give truthful testimony about the circumstances of your participation in hostilities against Ukraine?

POW: First of all, as I’ve already said, I didn’t know before coming to Russia that I would be fighting here, in Russia and I didn’t even know who we were fighting against.

Interrogator: What do you know about the losses suffered by North Korean units during combat operations against the Armed Forces of Ukraine? In which battles, from what types of weapons, and how many casualties — both wounded and irrecoverable?

POW: There were a lot of casualties when I was there alone, starting from the battle on Jan. 3. Overall, it’s hard to answer about such large-scale numbers.

Interrogator: What did you know about the world outside of North Korea?

POW: Not much.

Interrogator: Did you know anything about South Korea? What did you know?

POW: I only know that South Korea has fewer mountains than North Korea.

North Korean troops were deployed to Kursk Oblast last fall to support Russian forces against a Ukrainian incursion launched on Aug. 6. Ukrainian troops continue to operate in the region, leveraging their position for potential future negotiations.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that North Korean casualties have reached 300 killed and 2,700 wounded, attributing the losses to inadequate training and ineffective counter-drone tactics.

The NIS also reported that some North Korean soldiers have been forced to commit suicide to avoid capture by Ukrainian forces. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby echoed these claims on Dec. 27, adding that captured North Korean troops fear severe retaliation against their families if they surrender.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have officially acknowledged the deployment, which is the latest move in Moscow’s ever-increasing — and humiliating — reliance on Pyongyang to bolster its military, following long-running shipments of artillery shells and ballistic missiles.

 

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SOURCE: www.kyivindepwndent.com

RELATED: Ukraine releases New Year’s messages from Kim Jong-un to North Korean troops fighting in Russia: Report

Suspected North Korean soldiers wounded and captured by Ukrainian forces are seen in this photo posted on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Telegram channel on Jan. 11. [SCREEN CAPTURE]
KOREA JOONGANG DAILY | Published January 20, 2025

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly sent New Year’s messages to North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia’s war against Ukraine, urging them to “fight with courage” until the end, according to a news report.

“You experienced heartbreaking sacrifices and the joys of costly battle victories, many noble combat experiences, the priceless feeling of genuine camaraderie and patriotism, all so far away from the motherland,” read one of the messages attributed to Kim, according to the Washington Post on Sunday.

“I don’t even know how I can find the words to properly encourage and express gratitude for your dedication and tireless efforts,” the letter said.

The handwritten letters written in blue ink, revealed by Ukrainian special forces, were dated Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, with Kim’s signature at the end.

“Comrades! I miss you dearly. Please never forget that I constantly pray and hope for all of you to return safely and in good health,” Kim reportedly wrote. He urged the troops to “fight courageously until the day the assigned military mission is victoriously concluded.”

While the exact origins of the messages remain unclear, they may have been sent from Pyongyang or transcribed by North Korean soldiers after commanders read them aloud, according to the Post.

In addition to Kim’s messages, a small booklet found on a North Korean soldier contained handwritten lyrics to patriotic songs, including one that read, “My fate is always shared with the motherland.”

The Post interpreted the presence of such messages carried by North Korean soldiers in their pockets while on missions appearing “significantly more ideologically motivated than Russian soldiers, who often fight on contracts for large salaries.”

A cache of North Korean documents seized by Ukrainian troops revealed that North Korean troops recorded their combat experiences in detail.

One document said they faced challenges due to a lack of crucial battlefield information, such as enemy strongholds and drone launch sites, leaving them unprepared. Others highlighted the deadly effectiveness of Ukrainian drones.

“In modern warfare, where real-time reconnaissance and drone strikes are conducted, failing to disperse combat teams into smaller units of two to three members could lead to significant casualties from enemy drones and artillery,” one document read.

The Post suggested that Pyongyang is using the war as a chance to “gain practical battlefield experience for potential future conflicts with the West.”

Recently, Ukrainian forces have noted the reduced presence of North Korean troops in Russia’s southwestern Kursk region, which has been under Ukrainian control since August. According to the Post, their absence may indicate North Koreans are “regrouping and assessing future moves” or “could be a reflection of widespread injuries and exhaustion after recent attacks” following recent attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky estimated that approximately 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, with as many as 4,000 killed or wounded in recent weeks.

 

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SOURCE: www.koreajoongangdaily.com

 

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