President Volodymyr Zelensky launched on Jan. 20 new footage of the interrogation of a North Korean soldier captured by the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean troopers in Russia's Kursk Oblast earlier in January. Each troopers have been injured however survived.
The prisoner of struggle (POW) mentioned he arrived in Russia on a cargo ferry with over 100 troopers. He was not skilled with Russian army tools however claimed that a number of different North Korean troopers have been taught to take action.
Communication between captured North Korean troopers and SSU investigators continues.
Intelligence information on the motion of such troops to Russian territory, their coaching and full data isolation have been confirmed by the prisoners.
All of the info about North… pic.twitter.com/E2wiFlPBiw— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 20, 2025
He joined the military on the age of 17 and served on conscript responsibility in a reconnaissance battalion and mentioned his mom doesn’t know the place he’s now.
The POW mentioned he didn’t know he was going to struggle or know who he could be preventing towards.
The total dialog carried out through a translator is as follows:
Interrogator: Did you and different North Korean servicemen bear coaching on using Russian weapons and army tools? If that’s the case, the place and when?
POW/Translator: There have been just a few troopers from North Korea who have been skilled to make use of heavy Russian tools, however I personally didn’t bear such coaching.
Interrogator: The place did you serve? By which unit?
POW: (I work) in a reconnaissance battalion.
Interrogator: Does your mom know the place you might be?
POW: No she doesn't.
Interrogator: How many individuals have been on the ship that transported you from North Korea to Russia?
POW: Roughly over 100.
Interrogator: What sort of ship was it?
POW: I imagine it was a Russian ferry, however not a army vessel — only one for transporting cargo.
Interrogator: Had been solely folks on board or was there cargo as nicely?
POW: It was solely us.
Interrogator: What number of seats have been within the practice automotive you traveled in?
POW: The identical individuals who have been on the ferry have been additionally on the practice — there have been no others, it was the identical group.
Interrogator: Had been there beds within the carriage, what number of?
POW: There have been six tables and beds. In whole there have been about 100 folks.
Interrogator: Inform us in regards to the starting of your service within the ranks of the North Korean armed forces. Particularly, when did you start your army service? How did it occur and so forth? The place did you serve?
POW: Sometimes, after ending faculty all males be part of the army. I additionally joined the military after ending faculty and joined the reconnaissance division and stayed there for my complete service.
Interrogator: How previous have been you once you began your service?
POW: I used to be 17 years previous.
Interrogator: Are you serving underneath contract or conscription?
POW: Not underneath contract, conscription.
Interrogator: Do you voluntarily want to give truthful testimony in regards to the circumstances of your participation in hostilities towards Ukraine?
POW: Initially, as I've already mentioned, I didn't know earlier than coming to Russia that I might be preventing right here, in Russia and I didn't even know who we have been preventing towards.
Interrogator: What are you aware in regards to the losses suffered by North Korean items throughout fight operations towards the Armed Forces of Ukraine? By which battles, from what sorts of weapons, and what number of casualties — each wounded and irrecoverable?
POW: There have been plenty of casualties once I was there alone, ranging from the battle on Jan. 3. General, it's onerous to reply about such large-scale numbers.
Interrogator: What do you know in regards to the world outdoors of North Korea?
POW: Not a lot.
Interrogator: Do you know something about South Korea? What do you know?
POW: I solely know that South Korea has fewer mountains than North Korea.
North Korean troops have been deployed to Kursk Oblast final fall to help Russian forces towards a Ukrainian incursion launched on Aug. 6. Ukrainian troops proceed to function within the area, leveraging their positions for potential future negotiations.
South Korea's Nationwide Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that North Korean casualties have reached 300 killed and a couple of,700 wounded, attributing the losses to insufficient coaching and ineffective counter-drone ways.
The NIS additionally reported that some North Korean troopers have been pressured to commit suicide to keep away from seize by Ukrainian forces. White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby echoed these claims on Dec. 27, including that captured North Korean troops concern extreme retaliation towards their households in the event that they give up.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova