A Kim Jong-un fighter believed to have been held in Russia’s Kursk region is purported to be in the image and, following its release, South Korea released a curious statement
Ukraine has captured its first North Korean prisoner of war fighting for Vladimir Putin, reports today claim.
A photograph allegedly shows the Kim Jong-un fighter who is believed to have been held in Russia’s Kursk region. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed a POW had been taken by Ukraine soon after the picture emerged.
In a brief statement, it said: “Through real-time information sharing with a friendly nation’s [Ukraine’s] intelligence organisation, [we] confirmed the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier and plans to thoroughly examine the subsequent development.” The North Korean soldier appears to have sustained injuries. Details of the fighter’s condition and status remained unknown however.
A Ukrainian statement reads: “The Special Operations Forces conducted an operation to eliminate the enemy in the Kursk direction. In addition to successfully completing the mission, there were also trophies – prisoners, including a mercenary from Korea, as well as an armoured personnel carrier equipped with anti-cumulative protection.”
Up to 12,000 North Korean fighters have been sent to fight in Ukraine. New footage shows wounded North Korean fighters in a Moscow military hospital alongside Russians.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky this week claimed that North Korea has suffered heavy losses. He said: “The number of killed and wounded North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region already exceeds 3,000 people. Russia is simply disposing of them in assaults. Why the Koreans should fight for Putin is a question that no normal person on Earth can answer.”
North Korea fighters are given fake Russian documents implying they are from the Siberian region of Tuva, according to reports. A new diary entry from a slain North Korean fighter has been revealed by the Ukrainian armed forces.
A new diary entry has been revealed from North Korean Private Gyong Hong Jong – who has also been named Jeong Kyung-hong – found with his body on the battlefield. He told “how to eliminate a drone” which is a real threat to his forces.
“When detecting a drone, you need to create a trio [3 people], while the one who lures the drone keeps a distance of 7 metres, and those who shoot – 10-12 metres,” he added.
“If the one who is luring stands still, the drone will also stop its movement. At this moment, the one who is shooting will eliminate [the drone].” He also wrote “how to avoid artillery fire zones”.
“If you find yourself in a shelling zone, having designated the next assembly point [group], you must disperse into small groups and leave the shelling zone. Another way: since artillery does not fire at the same point, you can hide at the point of (the previous) hit and then leave the firing zone.”
