Sat Jan 11 15:20:21 UTC 2025: ## Ukraine Interrogates Captured North Korean Soldiers in Kyiv
**KYIV, Ukraine** – Ukrainian authorities announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region, marking the first time Kyiv has had the opportunity to directly interrogate North Korean combatants. The soldiers, who sustained injuries in fighting, were transported to Kyiv for questioning by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in collaboration with South Korean intelligence.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the capture on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the prisoners of war are cooperating with the SBU. The SBU further detailed that one soldier possessed no identification, while the other carried a Russian military ID card under a false name. Language barriers are being overcome with the assistance of Korean translators and South Korean intelligence.
One soldier reportedly claimed he was misled into believing he was going to Russia for training, not combat. The SBU emphasized that both soldiers are receiving medical care in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
While Ukraine has previously alleged the presence of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region, and claimed previous captures, this is the first confirmed instance of interrogation. Previous reports indicated that wounded North Korean soldiers were often summarily executed by Russian forces.
The capture lends credence to Ukraine’s earlier claims of substantial North Korean military involvement in the war, including estimates of thousands of troops deployed and significant casualties. The White House and Pentagon have independently confirmed the presence of North Korean forces on the front lines. Despite the Ukrainian announcement, independent verification of the soldiers’ nationalities remains pending.
First Piper 