Yuyongwon Releases Additional Testimony from North Korean POWs in Ukraine
"Training Grounds Feature Terrains of Jongno-gu, Busan, Daegu, Jeonju, Jeju, and More"
A North Korean soldier captured as a prisoner of war in Ukraine testified that there is a training ground in Goksan, Hwanghae Province, North Korea, modeled after the terrains of various parts of South Korea such as Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island.
On the 6th, Yuyongwon, a member of the People Power Party who interviewed North Korean POWs in Ukraine, released an audio recording of prisoner Ri's testimony on SBS Radio's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show' containing this information.
Ri said, "When you go to the training place called the Military Training Ground, there are buildings modeled after the terrains of Jongno-gu in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Jeonju, and Jeju Island." When Rep. Yu asked, "Where is the Military Training Ground located?" Ri answered, "Goksan, Hwanghae Province."
People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won is meeting with a North Korean prisoner of war captured by the Ukrainian military on the 4th. Provided by the office of lawmaker Yoo Yong-won, Yonhap News Agency
Regarding this, Rep. Yu said, "It is already known that North Korea has built something similar to the Blue House for training in the past," but added, "It seems that it has been hardly known until now that such a thing exists specifically in Goksan, Hwanghae Province." He further explained, "I had heard that places like Busan and other provinces were similarly recreated, but this is the first time I have heard that Jeju Island was also made. They say there are such training grounds in several places besides Goksan."
When asked by the host, "Can we understand this as North Korea preparing for an invasion of the South?" Rep. Yu replied, "Yes," and said, "It can be seen as training in preparation for an emergency situation."
Another prisoner, Baek, explained his reason for participating in the war: "I didn't come here for any particular reason, but out of a sense of duty as a soldier. If told to fight, you fight, so there is no need to know who the enemy is." He also stated, "Isn't Russia an ally of our country (North Korea)? Since Russia is going through difficulties, I think I came to help."
Rep. Yu commented on this statement, saying, "There is a commonly used term called gaslighting, isn't there? I think it is reasonable to view it similarly." He then conveyed the two prisoners' intentions to defect: "Ri has 100% decided to defect but worries about lifelong disabilities," and "In Baek's case, it seems he is still undecided and contemplating."
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