North Korean troops stationed in Russia’s Kursk region have reportedly been instructed to commit suicide rather than risk capture by Ukrainian forces, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
This development was reported by Yonhap on January 13.
First North Korean Soldiers Captured
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers, describing the operation as particularly challenging.
“Russian and North Korean forces often execute their own wounded to prevent evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the war,” Zelenskyy explained.
In response, Zelenskyy extended a proposal to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a prisoner exchange, offering to swap North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian troops held by Russia.
For those unwilling to return to North Korea, Zelenskyy suggested an alternative, saying, “For those who wish to promote peace by spreading the truth about this war in Korean, they will be given the opportunity.”
A video released by Ukraine shows the captured North Korean soldiers in detention. In the footage, one prisoner expressed a desire to remain in Ukraine rather than return to his homeland.
As of early January, approximately 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and another 2,700 wounded in combat, according to NIS. These losses are attributed to what the agency describes as a “lack of understanding of modern warfare,” with ineffective tactics against Ukraine’s advanced long-range drones.
Reports indicate that 10,000–12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russian forces, with their involvement in combat beginning in mid-November.
Putin’s Growing Dependence on North Korea
Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia’s reliance on Pyongyang underscores the weakening state of its military.
“Three years ago, [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin issued ultimatums to NATO and tried to rewrite history. Now, he cannot sustain his war without military aid from North Korea,” Zelenskyy said.
Earlier, John Kirby, the U.S. Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, confirmed the significant losses faced by North Korean forces. He also noted reports of soldiers attempting suicide in the face of extreme conditions.
