Tragic Fate: North Korean Soldiers Captured in Ukraine Succumb to Injuries, Reveals Zelensky

Israeli forces instructed the evacuation of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza early Friday. The hospital's director claimed on social media that IDF soldiers ignited fires in the operating theaters within the besieged facility.

In a recent address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that several North Korean soldiers, who were captured by Ukrainian forces, succumbed to their injuries. Zelensky stated, "Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated." He, however, refrained from disclosing the exact number of soldiers captured, marking them as potentially the first North Koreans to be taken as prisoners of war by Ukraine.

Earlier reports from South Korea's intelligence agency indicated that at least one captive North Korean soldier had died due to injuries sustained in combat. The news was reported by Yonhap news agency, which highlighted the growing number of casualties among North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and Ukrainian officials have been contacted for comments regarding this situation.

U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence officials assessed that North Korean forces have experienced significant casualties while engaging in combat in Russia's Kursk region. In August, Ukraine initiated a rapid offensive in Kursk, which compelled Russian military leaders to reallocate troops to address the emerging threat. Zelensky remarked on the dire situation facing the North Korean military, stating that they are being deployed to battle with "minimal protection," contributing to their high casualty rates.

According to South Korea's intelligence reports, they received insight about the captured North Korean soldiers through real-time intelligence sharing with allied nations, although specific countries were not mentioned. Official acknowledgment from Moscow or Pyongyang regarding the presence of North Korean military personnel in Russia has yet to be made. Nonetheless, intelligence estimates from the U.S., Ukraine, and South Korea suggest that between 11,000 and 12,000 North Korean soldiers are currently in Russia, with many already participating in combat alongside Russian forces to reclaim territories in Kursk.

Details regarding the scale of casualties indicate that Ukraine is estimating around 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been either killed or injured in the Kursk region. A senior U.S. official has also pointed out that North Korea has faced "several hundred" casualties in the area since October. South Korean intelligence suggests that approximately 100 North Korean soldiers have died, while around 1,000 have suffered injuries since their deployment in the Kursk region.

Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of attempting to bury the reality of North Korean troop involvement in the war. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military claimed that documents seized from three deceased North Korean soldiers in Kursk were falsified military identification documents, featuring Russian names and birthplaces. Zelensky asserted that Russia is engaging in efforts to obscure the losses of North Korean troops, even resorting to extreme measures to hide the identities of those killed in battle.

He emphasized the disturbing tactics employed by Russian forces, stating, "Russians are trying… to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in battle." This statement accompanied a video shared on social media, purportedly depicting Russian soldiers setting fire to the remains of North Korean combatants. In light of this, Zelensky expressed concern over the potential for North Korea to dispatch additional troops and military resources to assist the Russian military. This apprehension follows a report from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief.

In a related diplomatic context, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently reached out to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un through a letter, affirming their commitment to advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed in June. This agreement includes a mutual defense pact, further entrenching the ties between the two nations amid the ongoing military conflict.