In a development highlighting the internationalization of the conflict, Ukrainian forces have reportedly captured two North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian troops in Kursk Oblast.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on Friday that elements of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) captured one soldier on January 9th, while Airborne Assault Forces captured another on an unspecified date.
The SBU is reportedly working with South Korean intelligence to communicate with the prisoners of war (POWs), as they do not speak English, Russian, or Ukrainian.
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One of the captured soldiers was carrying a Russian military registration card from the Tuva Republic, reportedly issued in Fall 2024. He told Ukrainian authorities that he had received only one week of coordination training with Russian forces before being deployed to combat. He also claimed he believed he was going to a training exercise in Russia, not to fight in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that it is common practice for Russian or North Korean forces to kill wounded North Korean personnel to conceal their participation in the war.
Reports indicate that North Korean forces are deploying in large assault groups, despite suffering significant casualties from Ukrainian drone strikes. This tactic differs from the smaller, more dispersed formations typically used by Russian forces.
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The heavy reliance on massed infantry assaults, coupled with an apparent disregard for drone threats, has contributed to high casualty rates among North Korean troops.
Western officials estimate that North Korean forces have suffered thousands of casualties in recent weeks, with one instance of roughly 1,000 casualties in a single week in late December.
Analysts suggest that the high casualty rate and questionable tactics employed by North Korean forces may limit their ability to learn and adapt from their combat experience in Ukraine. The refusal or inability to effectively counter drone threats further hinders their ability to gain valuable lessons from the conflict.
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