First North Korean soldier captured by Ukrainian forces dies of wounds – South Korean intel

Yonhap reported the information, citing South Korean intelligence.

"We confirmed through a friendly nation's intelligence organization that a North Korean soldier, captured alive on Dec. 26, died a short while ago as (his) wounds worsened," the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said.

Previously, South Korean intelligence confirmed the first capture of a wounded DPRK soldier by the Ukrainian army in the Kursk direction, according to Yonhap.

“Through real-time information sharing with a friendly nation's intelligence organization, (we) confirmed the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier and plans to thoroughly examine the subsequent development," the” the South Korean intelligence service said in a release.

The Militarnyi media outlet writes that in addition to the captured soldier, Ukrainian special forces, which conducted an operation in the Kursk sector, also captured Russian equipment.

The captured North Korean soldier was likely injured, but his condition and status is unknown.

According to South Korean officials, about 11,000 North Korean military personnel have been sent to Russia so far. There are signs of preparations for further deployment of North Korean troops and military equipment on the Russian-Ukrainian front.