Fri Dec 27 07:08:29 UTC 2024: ## South Korean Intelligence Confirms Capture of North Korean Soldier Fighting in Ukraine

**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed on Friday that a North Korean soldier fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine has been captured by Ukrainian troops. This confirmation comes days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the conflict.

The NIS, collaborating with an allied intelligence agency, verified the capture of the injured soldier, although the exact location remains undisclosed. Previous estimates by South Korean intelligence placed the number of North Korean casualties at around 1,000, attributing the high death toll to unfamiliar battlefield conditions and vulnerability to drone attacks. Lawmakers have described the North Korean soldiers as being used as expendable frontline troops.

The deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to support Russia’s war effort, including in the Kursk region, has raised concerns among Ukraine’s allies. This involvement, coupled with a landmark defense pact signed between Pyongyang and Moscow in June, represents a significant escalation of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly sent a New Year’s message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, highlighting the strengthened bilateral ties.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported on Monday that North Korea is preparing for potential further troop deployments to Russia, along with the supply of additional weaponry. This ongoing support has prompted warnings from Seoul, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (currently suspended) previously considered the possibility of providing weapons to Ukraine – a departure from longstanding policy. NATO Chief Mark Rutte also alleged that Moscow is offering support to Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs in exchange for troops. South Korea believes North Korea seeks to improve its conventional warfare capabilities through this combat experience.

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