"I Feel Like I Betrayed My Country, I Should Have Chosen Suicide"... Latest on North Korean Prisoners of War

One Year in Captivity... "Being Alive Is Uncomfortable"
"Even My Parents Didn't Know I Went to War"

Rimo, a North Korean prisoner of war captured by the Ukrainian military in 2024. The Asia Business Daily DB

The latest updates have emerged regarding North Korean soldiers who were deployed to fight with Russian forces and subsequently captured as prisoners of war by the Ukrainian military. In interviews, they revealed that at the time, they were unaware they would be participating in combat, and did not know where or with whom they would be fighting.

On January 20, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation aired the first part of its program "PD Notebook" titled "The Russian-Ukrainian War and the North Korean Army: Shadow Army." The broadcast focused on North Korean soldiers who participated in the Russia-Ukraine war, which has continued for about four years since 2022.

Ri Mo, who was captured by the Ukrainian military in February last year, previously expressed his desire to go to South Korea. In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo, even while wearing bandages due to injuries such as a fractured jawbone, Ri stated, "I am 80% determined. I plan to apply for refugee status and go to South Korea." This was the first time a North Korean prisoner of war had publicly declared an intention to go to South Korea.

"Being alive is uncomfortable... I feel like I betrayed my country"

One year later, Ri Mo appeared quite different. At the beginning of the interview, he was wary of the reporters and said, "I just feel uncomfortable. Being alive is hard." He added, "I don't even know if my mother is still alive. I worry that something bad might have happened to her because of me."

He continued, "I shouldn't have been born. Becoming a prisoner of war is the same as being a traitor, as if I betrayed my country. Other people chose to take their own lives rather than be captured, but I couldn't do it. If I had even had a grenade, I might have died instead of being captured. Now, I think the regret of not dying back then will haunt me a hundred times over in the future."

North Korean prisoner of war Ri Mo captured by the Ukrainian military. Screenshot from YouTube PD Notebook

Ri vividly recalled the battle he participated in. He explained that he was among the last group of North Korean soldiers deployed, and that all those who were sent before him had died. He said, "I felt fear, and I also felt deep pity and despair. I had never witnessed such a bloody and brutal battle before in my life. One of my comrades who went ahead was killed when a suicide drone struck him; his head and chest were blown off. When I saw him right after he died, his heart was still beating and blood was gushing out."

"Even my parents didn't know I was deployed... It would have been better to die cleanly"

Baek, who was captured alongside Ri Mo, also participated in the interview. Baek was wounded in a drone attack during combat and was captured by the Ukrainian military after being left unattended for four days. As of now, Ri Mo and Baek are confirmed to be the only surviving North Korean prisoners of war.

North Korean prisoner of war Baek, captured by the Ukrainian military. Screenshot from YouTube PD Notebook

Baek described the drone that injured him. He said, "I tried to hide in an old warehouse, but a drone saw me go in, and then another one flew in after me. That's how I got hurt." He continued, "With no combat experience and just trying to be brave, I should have either shot at the drone or hidden to avoid it, but when my comrades died, I was filled with rage. They all said they would definitely get revenge, but that just led to more deaths."

He also revealed that even his parents were unaware that he had gone to war. Baek said, "If my actions bring harm to my parents, that would make me an even worse son. I think it would have been better to die cleanly. We're all human-who wants to die, and who takes life so lightly? But when you have no other choice, that's the path you end up taking."