Ukrainian forces have captured an injured North Korean soldier who was sent to support Russia's war, South Korea's spy agency confirmed on Friday.

The soldier is believed to be the first North Korean prisoner of war captured since December, when Pyongyang deployed forces to support Russia's war in Ukraine.

The confirmation comes after a photo purporting to show the wounded soldier circulated on Telegram.

North Korea has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia, according to Kyiv and Seoul - though Moscow and Pyongyang have neither confirmed nor denied their presence.

This is the first in a string of captures and killings," Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told the BBC. "For Ukrainians, it's more beneficial to capture these North Korean troops and try to exchange them with Russians for Ukrainian prisoners of war

Recent images emerging from the Russia-Ukraine war confirmed speculations that "North Korean troops will be deployed in large numbers to the assault by Russian command," Mr Yang said.

He also added, however, that "it will be challenging to prove their North Korean nationality".

Ukrainian forces say that North Korean soldiers have been issued fake Russian IDs, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted footage last week which he said showed Russian troops burning the faces of slain North Koreans to conceal their identities.

Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services have said that many of the troops deployed to Russia are some of Pyongyang's best, drawn from the 11th Corps, also known as the Storm Corps. The unit is trained in infiltration, infrastructure sabotage and assassinations.

Over 3,000 North Korean troops have died or been wounded while fighting in Russia's Kursk region, Zelensky said Monday.

He added that the collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang heightens the "risk of destabilisation" around the Korean peninsula.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The recent deployment of North Korean troops to Russia is a sign of a growing alliance between the two pariah states.

The development, which comes as North Korea ratchets up tensions with South Korea, has sparked worries in the West. China, a longstanding ally of both sides, is also keeping a cautious eye on the friendship.

mysticwarrior:
Why South Korea come carry dey matter for head?

WrriterNg:



You really think Ukranian troops are the ones fighting?

Do you know the amount of NATO soldiers disguised as mercenaries that are pouring into Ukraine?

From all over the world, soldiers are taking up mercenary roles to fight for Ukraine. NATO pays them.

iamdocToyemi:
Because the have the US,EU and NATO supporting them. Even the wages of workers in the country are paid by the EU and US, including payments of foreign mercenaries fighting in Ukr. The support is overwhelming.

mysticwarrior:
Why South Korea come carry dey matter for head?

mysticwarrior:
Why South Korea come carry dey matter for head?

mysticwarrior:
Why South

---

Korea come carry dey matter for head?

God1000:
I pity them, it's better to die for your country and and be remembered as a hero than this.

mysticwarrior:
Why South Korea come carry dey matter for head?

mysticwarrior:
Why South Korea come carry dey matter for head?

Iweakbro:


They so badly want to send their troops to Ukraine's aid.

Sincerely, Ukrainian men are the real MVPs, how come their spirits are not broken? Then didn't surrender like Afghan or Syrian soldiers.

Iweakbro:


They so badly want to send their troops to Ukraine's aid.

Sincerely, Ukrainian men are the real MVPs, how come their spirits are not broken? Then didn't surrender like Afghan or Syrian soldiers.

God1000:
I pity them, it's better to die for your country and and be remembered as a hero than this.


I think the only time they will have a good fighting chance is when trump takes over and starve Ukraine of weapons.


I heard Russia is paying each north Korean soldier roughly $2000 every month

iamdocToyemi:
People don't get tired of propaganda's, what is the evidence that he's North Korean? The Asian part of Russia are filled with people of this look and sizes. Propaganda all day everyday.

iamdocToyemi:
Because the have the US,EU and NATO supporting them. Even the wages of workers in the country are paid by the EU and US, including payments of foreign mercenaries fighting in Ukr. The support is overwhelming.

God1000:
I pity them, it's better to die for your country and and be remembered as a hero than this.


I think the only time they will have a good fighting chance is when trump takes over and starve Ukraine of weapons.


I heard Russia is paying each north Korean soldier roughly $2000 every month

Akuruoulo:

Mr terrorist are North Korean soldiers uncatchable?
Mumu boy

Iweakbro:


They so badly want to send their troops to Ukraine's aid.

Sincerely, Ukrainian men are the real MVPs, how come their spirits are not broken? Then didn't surrender like Afghan or Syrian soldiers.