North Korean soldiers face truth in Ukrainian captivity
North Korean soldiers in Russia were under the impression they were fighting the South Korean army. This information was shared by one of them in an interview with "Chosun Ilbo." The soldier, now a prisoner of war in Ukraine, is considering seeking asylum in South Korea.
North Korean soldiers, dispatched to the front lines in Russia's Kursk region, were misinformed about their true adversaries. One soldier disclosed to the South Korean daily "Chosun Ilbo" that they were told they were battling the South Korean army.
Soldiers trapped in misinformation
A North Korean soldier, identified only as Ri, admitted he was unaware of the real opposition and thought he would face South Korean forces. He was informed that going to Russia was "foreign training." He arrived in the Kursk region in December of the previous year, where he underwent basic training that did not include strategies for combating drones.
Ri revealed that according to North Korea's Ministry of Security, Ukrainian drones were piloted by South Korean soldiers. Battles that began on January 5 saw the first wave of soldiers suffering heavy losses due to drone attacks and artillery shelling.
Dramatic experiences of North Korean soldiers on the front
The 26-year-old soldier was seriously injured and blamed Russian artillery for the "unnecessary casualties," as it did not provide adequate support. Ri confessed that all his comrades were killed, and he survived only by chance.
In an interview with "Chosun Ilbo," Ri acknowledged that being captured is regarded as treason in the North Korean army. He had served as a reconnaissance sniper since 2015 and planned to pursue further studies after his military service ended.
Asylum in South Korea?
Ri is considering applying for asylum in South Korea.
I have made up my mind 80 percent ... Above all, I will seek refuge and am thinking about going to the Republic of Korea, he said.
The Ukrainian army reported that on January 11, it captured two North Korean soldiers. The government in Seoul confirmed that it would welcome all North Korean prisoners of war from Ukraine.
North Korean soldiers are our nationals according to the Constitution, said an anonymous official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, quoted by Yonhap news agency.
Read also:
