Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region, marking the first time Kyiv has announced the capture of North Korean troops alive since their involvement in the war began last autumn, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday.
North Korean regular forces reportedly entered the conflict in October, siding with Russia. Kyiv and its Western allies initially estimated their numbers at over 10,000. In a statement on X, Zelenskiy confirmed that the captured soldiers had been brought to Kyiv and were now in contact with Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).
"As with all prisoners of war, these two North Korean soldiers are receiving the necessary medical assistance," Zelenskiy said, adding that journalists would soon be allowed to interview them.
According to Kyiv, North Korean troops are actively engaged in fighting in the Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August and still holds control of several hundred square kilometers. In addition to deploying troops, Pyongyang has supplied Russia with large quantities of artillery shells, a claim echoed by Kyiv’s Western allies.
Russia has not acknowledged the presence of North Korean forces in Kursk and has issued no response to the latest developments. Similarly, there was no immediate reaction from Pyongyang.
Ukraine had previously reported the capture of North Korean soldiers, but they succumbed to injuries before any formal announcement could be made. This latest development underscores the increasing complexity of international involvement in the war.
* Reuters contributed to this article.
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