Ukrainian intel reveals plans for captured North Korean soldiers

Evhenii Yerin, a representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate under the Defense Ministry, revealed this to Radio Liberty.

“In any case, I can say that this is an important and beneficial incident for Ukraine and our position, which we will use to our advantage. The information we can obtain from them is both interesting and valuable. Additionally, the mere fact of confirming the participation of individuals from North Korea directly is a crucial piece of evidence for us,” Yerin stated.

According to him, specialists familiar with North Korea are currently working with the prisoners of war.

“The involvement of military personnel from this country has been known and announced by Ukrainian intelligence for a long time. Believe me, we were prepared, and not only us but all relevant services involved in this process were ready for such developments. Accordingly, we are fully prepared within the framework of Ukraine’s legislation,” he emphasized.

Yerin added that, for now, Russia is only using North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. There is no information regarding the possible presence of North Korean troops on Ukrainian territory.

“Their presence alone is already a factor that influences the course of the war, albeit not critically or decisively. Their primary tasks usually involve participation in assault operations or other missions. They are mostly deployed within Russian Marine Corps or Airborne Forces units and are essentially cannon fodder. Among them are various specialists handling different tasks, but overall, they are essentially infantry,” the intelligence representative concluded.

• On January 11, Ukraine’s Defense Forces captured two North Korean soldiers who were wounded during battles in Russia’s Kursk region. The North Koreans were brought to Kyiv, where they are being interrogated by the SBU.
• According to South Korean intelligence, 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine, while another 2,700 have been wounded.