Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address on the evening of December 27, announced that several North Korean soldiers had been captured during Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to the national portal Adyrna citing DW.
“Today, there were reports about several North Korean soldiers. Our military captured them, but due to severe injuries, it was impossible to save their lives,” Zelensky said.
According to the president, there have been significant losses among North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia in the Kursk region.
“Russian military personnel and North Korean supervisors have no intention of preserving these soldiers’ lives. In some cases, North Koreans were even shot by their own comrades to prevent them from being captured,” Zelensky highlighted.
Earlier, on December 26, Ukrainian media and Telegram channels published a photo of the first North Korean soldier captured in the Kursk region. On December 27, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that South Korean intelligence confirmed the capture of a North Korean soldier by Ukrainian forces.
Citing South Korean officials, journalists reported that approximately 11,000 North Korean military personnel have been deployed to Russia.
“There are signs of further preparations to send more troops and military equipment from North Korea to Russia,” the report added.
