"Wait", "I am a seal receiver"... Ukraine Reveals Intercepted North Korean Military Codes

Interpreted as an 'Immediate Return' Order
NYT Reports 50,000 Troops Including North Korean Forces Gathered

Content of North Korean military communications intercepted and released by the Ukrainian military intelligence agency. Ukrainian military intelligence agency YouTube

The Ukrainian military disclosed on the 10th (local time) intercepted North Korean military radio communications in Russia's Kursk region. The communications contained Korean phrases such as "hana dul, hana dul" ("one two, one two") and "na mulgae susin" ("this is Seal receiving"), which the Ukrainian military interprets as orders for an "immediate return."

According to the announcement by the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) under the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, these communications were intercepted the previous day. The intercepted transmissions included a male voice, presumed to be a soldier, giving commands in Korean such as "hana dul, hana dul," "wait," "na mulgae susin," and "mulgae dul, mulgae hana, mulgae hana" ("Seal two, Seal one, Seal one"). The Ukrainian military interpreted these as orders for an immediate return.

Ukrainian and U.S. authorities estimate that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russia's war in Ukraine and are currently located in Kursk. Kursk is a region of Russian mainland territory where Ukraine has launched a surprise offensive since August and partially occupies. It is anticipated that Russia will attempt to retake the area by mobilizing North Korean forces and others. On the same day, The New York Times (NYT), citing U.S. government officials, reported that the Russian military has concentrated around 50,000 troops, including North Korean soldiers, in Ukraine's Kursk region.

The deployed North Korean troops are expected to be actively engaged in combat soon. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, wrote on Facebook the previous day, "We have received many reports that North Korean troops are preparing to participate in combat operations alongside Russian forces." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also mentioned that some North Korean troops have been deployed in combat and casualties have occurred.