Ukrainian military captures North Korean soldier for the first time – South Korean intelligence
Photo: Footage from the video of the 95th Separate Assault Brigade of Ukraine's armed forces
South Korea's intelligence agency has confirmed information that Ukraine's armed forces have captured a North Korean soldier for the first time.
The Yonhap agency reported that.
"Thanks to the exchange of information in real time with the intelligence organization of a friendly country, we have confirmation of the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier and plan to carefully study further developments," the National Intelligence Service of the Republic of Korea said in a short release.
Photo: t.me/the_warshal18
Details of how this happened have not yet been disclosed.
Earlier, the Ukrainian specialized publication "Militarny" reported that Ukraine's armed forces probably captured a North Korean soldier during an operation in the Kursk region.
"The Special Operations Forces group conducted an operation to destroy the enemy in the Kursk direction. In addition to successfully completing the task, there were also trophies: prisoners, including a mercenary from Korea, as well as an armored personnel carrier equipped with anti-cumulative protection," the report said.
Photo: screenshot of the post t.me/the_warshal18
The prisoner's condition is serious, and traces of injury are visible in the photo. Therefore, it is not known whether they were able to evacuate him, stabilize his condition in time, and subsequently deliver him to a medical facility.
It is worth noting that before that, there was no data on the capture of DPRK servicemen who were helping Russia fight against Ukraine. Therefore, if the information is confirmed, this case can be called the first replenishment of the "exchange fund" by North Korean soldiers.
However, there was no official confirmation of this information.
In addition to the reported captured North Korean soldier, special forces captured a Russian BTR-82 armored personnel carrier, weapons, documents, etc.
This is likely the first North Korean soldier who has been captured since it was revealed on December 14, 2024 that DPRK fighters had been involved in combat with units of the Defense Forces in the Kursk region. On that same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed reports of North Korean soldiers participating in the fighting in the Kursk region.
Following the results of the Headquarters meeting on December 23, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the number of killed and wounded North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region exceeds 3 thousand people.
For reference:
The Ukrainian troops are still engaged in intense combat actions in the Kursk area, having achieved great success in neutralizing the enemy. In a particular sector of the front, they were able to eliminate over twenty enemy soldiers. On December 15, the Ukrainian military released images of deceased North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region.
Furthermore, Ukraine's armed forces' Special Operations Forces demonstrated their combat abilities by effectively eliminating North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. Within three days, they were able to take down 50 North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russia.
In addition, the Security Service of Ukraine intercepted a conversation between the Russian invaders, from which it became known that at least 200 North Korean fighters were wounded in battles in the Kursk region.
According to available information, a military contingent of the DPRK, numbering up to 12 thousand people, is undergoing training at five training grounds of the Eastern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces. This contingent includes at least 500 officers from North Korea, including three generals from the General Staff.
