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Reports indicate that North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia’s Kursk region are employing extreme measures to avoid capture during the ongoing conflict against Ukrainian forces, including suicide, according to a recent report by Reuters.
Following a recent battle, Ukrainian special forces searched the snowy landscape where they discovered several North Korean soldiers killed. They encountered one soldier still alive, who tragically detonated a grenade, taking his own life without harming nearby Ukrainian troops.
UKRAINE HAS CAPTURED 2 NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS, SOUTH KOREA’S INTELLIGENCE SERVICE SAYS
This revelation about the self-destructive tactics follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announcing the capture of two North Korean prisoners of war for the first time. Zelenskyy confirmed this during a national address, noting the challenges involved and alleging that North Korean and Russian forces often “finish off their wounded Korean” troops to prevent them from being captured.
Furthermore, Ukraine has repeatedly claimed that Russia is issuing military IDs to North Korean forces to obscure the involvement of foreign troops in the conflict supporting Moscow. Both U.S. and Western intelligence sources have corroborated claims of North Korea’s military deployment in Russia.
Estimates suggest that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers are currently in Russia, with around 11,000 stationed in Kursk to counteract Ukrainian advances.
Zelenskyy and South Korean intelligence have reported that North Korean troops in Kursk have suffered approximately 3,000 casualties since their involvement began in mid-November.
KIM JONG UN’S BIG GUNS SPOTTED ON RUSSIAN FRONT LINES: REPORT
In a recent post on X, Zelenskyy shared footage of the two captured North Korean soldiers being treated medically and interrogated about their situation before being thrust into this conflict.
One soldier expressed that he was unaware he was being sent to fight against Ukraine to support Russia, believing instead that he and his comrades were going for training exercises. However, by January 3, he found himself in an active combat scenario, witnessing the deaths of fellow North Korean soldiers before hiding in a dugout for two days until he was discovered on January 5.
Western intelligence has consistently indicated that North Korean troops are ill-prepared for the combat situation they face, and Zelenskyy remarked, “It’s only a matter of time before our troops manage to capture others.”
Zelenskyy also stated, “Ukraine is prepared to return Kim Jong Un’s soldiers if he can arrange an exchange for our warriors held captive in Russia. For those North Korean soldiers who prefer not to return, alternative options may be available.”
