Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that several North Korean soldiers, who were captured by Ukrainian forces, have died from severe injuries.
“Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner,” Zelensky stated in his address, “but they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated.” He did not disclose the specific number of soldiers captured, but they are believed to be the first North Koreans taken as prisoners of war by Ukraine.
Earlier reports from South Korea’s spy agency indicated that one wounded North Korean soldier, captured by Ukrainian forces, had died from his injuries. CNN has reached out to both South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and Ukrainian authorities for further comments.
According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, North Korean troops have suffered heavy casualties while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk began in August, compelling Russia to redirect troops to address the situation.
Zelensky remarked that the North Korean military is facing significant losses and accused Russia of deploying their soldiers to battle with “minimal protection.” He noted, “They have a lot of losses. A lot. And we see that the Russian military and North Korean supervisors are not interested in the survival of these Koreans at all.”
Seoul’s intelligence agency stated that they obtained information regarding the capture through real-time intelligence sharing with allies, although the specific countries involved were not named.
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have officially acknowledged the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia. Nevertheless, intelligence estimates from the U.S., Ukraine, and South Korea suggest that between 11,000 and 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia, some already participating in combat operations alongside Russian forces in Kursk.
Ukraine claims that over 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict, while a senior U.S. official reported “several hundred” casualties in the region since October. A South Korean lawmaker revealed that nearly 100 North Korean soldiers are believed to have died, and almost 1,000 have been injured since their deployment to Kursk.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of attempting to obscure the involvement of North Korean soldiers. Earlier this month, documents seized from three deceased North Korean soldiers were identified as fake military IDs, bearing Russian names and birthplaces.
Zelensky stated that Russia is actively working to hide the losses of North Korean troops, employing extreme measures to alter the identities of those killed in combat. “Russians are trying… to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in battle,” he said on X, alongside a video allegedly showing Russian soldiers burning the bodies of North Korean soldiers.
Zelensky also warned of the risks associated with North Korea potentially sending additional troops and military equipment to support the Russian army.
In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reaffirming the commitment of both nations to implement their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed in June, which includes a mutual defense agreement, according to Russian and North Korean state media.
Credit: CNN
