North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine dies, confirms South Korea's spy agency

According to South Korean intelligence reports, a North Korean soldier detained by Ukrainian forces has died from severe injuries.

On the right: Ukraine, the 56th prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, with 49 Ukrainians returning and 49 Russians handed over, in September 2024. On the left: A North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine, who died from worsening wounds, as confirmed by South Korea's spy agency.

PAP/Vladyslav Musiienko/Yonhap News Agency

Thousands of North Korean soldiers were sent to the Ukrainian front this year, with one being captured during operations in Russia’s Kursk region, though the exact location of the capture has not been disclosed.

A photo of the North Korean soldier, believed to have been captured and injured, was shared on Telegram. The soldier's condition and status were initially unclear.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed, citing intelligence from a friendly country, that the soldier recently died from worsening wounds, according to Yonhap News Agency.

First captured North Korean soldier in Ukraine dies from injuries, Seoul says

South Korea's intelligence confirmed a wounded North Korean POW's death following Ukraine's first such battlefield seizure, per Yonhap.https://t.co/qhtV8NZxGY

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) December 27, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently reported that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the fighting, while South Korean intelligence previously estimated around 1,000 casualties.

These high losses are attributed to unfamiliarity with the battlefield, difficulties in countering drone attacks, and the use of North Korean soldiers as "frontline assault units."

IAR/Yonhap/X/@EuromaidanPress
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