South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun has claimed that around 300 North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine have been killed so far, citing information from Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS). According to the NIS, these soldiers were ordered to kill themselves before being captured. The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia is reportedly expanding to include the Kursk region, with estimated casualties among North Korean forces surpassing 3,000.
https://www.news18.com/world/north-korea-soldiers-killed-ukraine-war-ordered-to-kill-themselves-capture-south-korea-9186878.htmlUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to hand over two captured North Korean soldiers to their government in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war being held captive in Russia. The offer was made after South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirmed that the soldiers had been wounded fighting against Ukraine's troops in Russia's Kursk region. According to an interrogation video posted by Zelensky, one of the North Korean soldiers said he did not know he would be fighting in a war with Ukraine and was told it was just training. The other soldier expressed a desire to return to North Korea, while the second wanted to live in Ukraine if given the chance. South Korea's confirmation added weight to Kyiv's account, which had previously stated that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded fighting for Russia.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/zelensky-offers-to-exchange-north-korean-soldiers-with-captive-ukrainians-7460394Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting for Russia in the Kursk region. The soldiers were identified by South Korea's National Intelligence Service as being part of a group of over 10,000 North Korean fighters sent to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. According to the NIS, one of the captured soldiers revealed during his interrogation that he received military training from Russian forces after arriving in November and was initially told he was being sent for training, not to fight. The SBU also stated that the men had told interrogators they were experienced army soldiers who had been sent to Russia for training, not to engage in combat.
https://www.news18.com/world/ukraine-captures-two-north-korean-soldiers-fighting-for-russia-in-kursk-region-report-9185945.htmlSouth Korea's National Intelligence Service has confirmed that Ukraine has captured two wounded North Korean soldiers in Russia, who are being interrogated by Ukrainian authorities. This development comes as part of a larger controversy surrounding North Korea's alleged involvement in the conflict, with Ukraine, the US and South Korea accusing Pyongyang of sending over 10,000 troops to support Russian forces.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/01/13/world/asia-oceania/2-nkorean-soldiers-held-in-ukraine/2037320