Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that several North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces have succumbed to their injuries. In his address, Zelensky revealed that these soldiers were seriously wounded when taken prisoner and could not be resuscitated.
This marks the first known instance of North Korean soldiers being taken as prisoners of war by Ukraine. Zelensky did not specify the number of soldiers captured. However, U.S., Ukrainian, and South Korean intelligence estimate that between 11,000 and 12,000 North Korean soldiers are currently in Russia, with some reportedly engaging in combat operations alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region.
Heavy Casualties in Kursk
Ukrainian estimates suggest that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk. A South Korean lawmaker, citing intelligence reports, stated that around 100 soldiers have died and nearly 1,000 have been injured since being deployed to the region.
The Ukrainian military recently claimed that documents seized from three deceased North Korean soldiers in Kursk were falsified, bearing Russian names and birthplaces. Officials in Kyiv have accused Russia of attempting to conceal the involvement and heavy losses of North Korean troops on the battlefield.
“Russians are trying… to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in battle,” Zelensky said in a statement on December 17, along with a video allegedly showing Russian forces setting fire to the bodies of deceased North Korean troops.
Intelligence Sharing and International Response
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed on Friday that one wounded North Korean soldier had died after being captured by Ukraine. The agency noted that this information was obtained through real-time intelligence sharing with allied nations.
The deployment of North Korean soldiers to support Russian military efforts has drawn criticism from Kyiv, Seoul, and Washington. Zelensky accused Moscow of sending North Korean troops into combat with “minimal protection” and prioritizing battlefield gains over their survival.
“They have a lot of losses. A lot. And we see that the Russian military and North Korean supervisors are not interested in the survival of these Koreans at all,” Zelensky said.
Russia-North Korea Partnership
Despite the mounting evidence, neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially acknowledged the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed ties with North Korea, sending a letter to Kim Jong Un emphasizing their “comprehensive strategic partnership,” which includes a mutual defense pact.
The growing alliance between Russia and North Korea has raised concerns about the potential deployment of additional troops and military equipment. Zelensky warned of these risks after receiving a report from Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.