The National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced on the 12th that a North Korean soldier captured by the Ukrainian military testified that they suffered "significant troop losses" during the battle.
The NIS stated, "We have confirmed that the Ukrainian military captured two North Korean soldiers on the battlefield in Kursk, Russia, on the 9th," and conveyed this information.
This confirmation follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's disclosure on the 11th (local time) that the Ukrainian military had captured two North Korean soldiers in the western Kursk region of Russia.
The NIS added, "We plan to continue sharing related information closely with the Ukrainian intelligence agency (SBU) regarding the North Korean prisoners of war."
According to the NIS, the soldiers were captured wounded on the Kursk front and are currently in stable condition.
One of the captured North Korean soldiers stated during interrogation that he arrived in Russia last November, underwent military training from the Russian side for a week, and then moved to the battlefield.
The soldier reportedly believed he was moving for training rather than war and only learned of the deployment after arriving in Russia.
Additionally, he confessed that there were significant troop losses during the battle and that he was left behind, unable to eat or drink for 4 to 5 days before being captured.
President Zelensky posted on his Telegram channel that the two captured North Korean soldiers, wounded, were transferred to Kyiv and are undergoing interrogation by the SBU.
With the NIS stating it will share related information with Ukrainian authorities, there is speculation that the South Korean government may be involved in the interrogation process.
Earlier, major foreign media reported that the captured soldiers are being interrogated by the SBU with interpretation support provided by the South Korean NIS personnel dispatched locally.
As the Ukrainian military succeeded in capturing North Korean soldiers after several attempts, attention is focused on how their custody will be handled.
If Russia recognizes the captured North Korean soldiers as members of the Russian military, they will be granted prisoner of war status under the Geneva Conventions on the Treatment of Prisoners of War and will be subject to repatriation to Russia. However, if both Russia and North Korea claim they are not affiliated with their respective militaries, they may be considered "illegal combatants" and may not be granted prisoner of war status.
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