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Volodymyr Zelensky said this Saturday, January 11, that two North Korean soldiers were taken prisoner in the Russian oblast of Kursk. They were transported to kyiv for interrogation by the SBU, the Ukrainian security services.
Two North Korean soldiers were taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday January 11. These soldiers, injured but surviving, were transferred to kyiv where they are currently being questioned by the Ukrainian security services (SBU).
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The Ukrainian president confirmed the information via a message on Telegram, accompanied by photos showing the two soldiers in detention. This capture confirms the presence of North Korean troops on the Russian front.
“It was not an easy task: as a rule, the Russians and other North Korean soldiers finish off their wounded and do everything to prevent proof of the participation of another state – North Korea – in the war against Ukraine,” explains Volodymyr Zelensky.
Between 1,100 and 3,000 North Korean soldiers killed or injured
For several months, reports have emerged of the massive sending of North Korean soldiers to reinforce Russian positions against Ukrainian forces. According to Ukrainian and Western estimates, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has deployed up to 10,000 troops in support of Moscow since last October. Their deployment would aim to repel Ukrainian counter-offensives, particularly in the strategic Kursk region.
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The massive sending of North Korean troops is part of a strategic partnership between the two countries, which has intensified since the signing of a mutual defense pact. Losses within the North Korean forces engaged in Russia remain difficult to quantify precisely. The South Korean general staff reports between 1,100 and 3,000 North Korean soldiers killed or wounded since their arrival on the front.
