Official: Ukraine captures North Korean soldiers

Ukrainian forces have captured North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region. Two soldiers, who were wounded but survived, were transported to Kyiv and are now being interviewed by investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

This task was challenging: Russian forces and North Korean military personnel typically execute their wounded comrades to eliminate any evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the war against Ukraine.

I extend my gratitude to the soldiers of Tactical Group No. 84 of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and our paratroopers, who successfully captured these two individuals.

As with all prisoners of war, these two North Korean soldiers are receiving the necessary medical care.

I have instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to grant journalists access to these prisoners. The world must know what is happening.

Both North Korean prisoners claim they were sent for “training,” not to participate in the war against Ukraine.

According to SBU materials, during interrogations, one of the prisoners stated he was born in 2005, held the position of rifleman, and had been serving in the North Korean military since 2021. He was found with a document issued by Russia in the fall of 2024. He said that during that time, certain North Korean combat units underwent a week-long coordination exercise with Russian forces.

The other prisoner, born in 1999, stated he had been serving in the North Korean army since 2016 as a sniper-reconnaissance specialist. He did not have any identification documents on him.

The capture occurred on January 9, 2025. One was taken by soldiers from Tactical Group No. 84 of the Special Operations Forces, and the other by paratroopers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

They speak only Korean, so communication with them is facilitated by Korean-language translators in cooperation with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.

Tags: north korea Russia russia ukraine war Ukraine