Six officers from North Korea were among the 20 soldiers killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk, intelligence sources say.
Kyiv Post sources fluent in Korean have confirmed that the language, with an accent atypical in the South, was spoken in two videos alleging Pyongyang troops’ presence in Russia.
By
Kyiv Post
Oct. 19, 2024
Ukraine and South Korea both claimed in mid-October that Pyongyang had deployed troops to aid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, likely as a result of a mutual defense pact signed in June.
In early October, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence (HUR) claimed that Pyongyang had deployed troops to reinforce Moscow’s troops in Ukraine. In addition, media reports, citing HUR, claimed that six North Korean officers had been killed in a missile strike, with 18 more Pyongyang troops having allegedly deserted their positions near Ukraine.
HUR Chief Kyrylo Budanov said Oct. 18 that Pyongyang was preparing to send 11,000 troops to aid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Following the reports, Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) issued satellite images alleging North Korean troops in Russia’s Far East prior to their deployments in Ukraine. Videos circulating on social media around the time also depicted Korean-speaking soldiers in a Russian military base.
One of the North Koreans captured by Kyiv shared more details on his journey to Russia, his military service, and what he knows about the world behind Pyongyang’s information blackout.
Ukraine’s capture of two North Korean soldiers in Kursk reveals Pyongyang’s deepening role in Russia’s war. Confiscated items suggest strict orders and concealed identities.
Do you know the key events that shaped the war in Ukraine this week? Stay up-to-date with Kyiv Post’s latest quiz covering the most significant stories over the last seven days.
As many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers now fighting against Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region could be killed or injured by mid-April, says an ISW report.
One of the captured North Korean soldiers fighting for the Kremlin previously voiced a desire to stay in Ukraine, while the other said he wanted to return home.
A Ukrainian soldier has described North Koreans fighting in the Kursk region as “disciplined, determined and fearless,” in a post on social media on Saturday.
Russia has not denied or confirmed reports that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been sent to its border Kursk region to help Moscow fight off a Ukrainian incursion.
Over the weekend, Zelensky said Kyiv had captured two North Korean soldiers, releasing video of the injured combatants being interrogated and raising the possibility of a prisoner swap.
Ukraine proposes a prisoner exchange with Pyongyang after capturing North Korean soldiers; Zelensky offers aid to wildfire-hit Los Angeles; Russia intensifies its offensive in the east.
According to Zelensky, the capture was challenging, as Russians and DPRK troops often kill their wounded to hide evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the war against Ukraine.
The SSO has recovered weapons, advanced equipment, and the personal documents of North Korean soldiers, suggesting one of the eliminated soldiers was an officer.
Think you know the key events affecting the war in Ukraine this year? Try out your skills with Kyiv Post’s inaugural Year-in-Review Quiz highlighting the top dozen stories impacting Ukraine in 2024.
Ukraine’s capture of two North Korean soldiers in Kursk reveals Pyongyang’s deepening role in Russia’s war. Confiscated items suggest strict orders and concealed identities.
![[VIDEOS] North Korean Troops in Russia Confirmed](https://static.kyivpost.com/storage/2024/10/19/a6f6a4c5d74d066019e5812a20c6514f.png?w=420&q=75&f=webp)
