South Korean intelligence officials revealed that captured North Korean soldiers in Ukraine have not expressed intentions to defect, highlighting the strong ideological conditioning of troops sent to support Russian forces.
Recent battlefield reports from Ukraine's western Kursk region indicate North Korean soldiers are taking extreme measures to avoid capture, including suicide attempts. In one incident, a wounded North Korean soldier detonated a grenade when approached by Ukrainian special forces.
According to South Korean lawmakers briefed by the country's spy agency, documents found on deceased North Korean soldiers show they were instructed to choose self-destruction over capture. The directive appears aimed at preventing evidence of North Korea's involvement in the conflict and protecting families back home from potential repercussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this week that his forces had captured two North Korean soldiers. One sustained jaw injuries while the other had wounds to his hands. During interrogation through Korean translators, one soldier claimed he thought he was participating in training exercises rather than actual combat.
Western intelligence estimates approximately 11,000-12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russian forces, with over 3,000 killed or wounded since mid-November. The high casualty rate suggests these soldiers may be unprepared for modern warfare tactics, particularly drone warfare.
Zelenskyy has offered to return captured North Korean soldiers to leader Kim Jong Un in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia. However, former North Korean military defectors indicate that being captured and repatriated could lead to severe consequences, as it would be considered an act of treason.
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially acknowledged the presence of North Korean forces in Ukraine, though Russian President Vladimir Putin did not deny their involvement when questioned in October.