SEOUL, South Korea — On Monday, South Korea’s intelligence agency informed lawmakers that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces while allied with Russia in the Kursk region do not wish to seek asylum in South Korea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the social media platform X that he is open to the possibility of returning the soldiers to North Korea, provided that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un facilitates a prisoner exchange involving Ukrainians held in Russia. Zelenskyy further mentioned that there could be alternative options for North Korean soldiers who prefer not to go back home, and a video released by his administration suggested that at least one of the captured soldiers might prefer to stay in Ukraine.
During a confidential briefing at the National Assembly in South Korea, the National Intelligence Service revealed its involvement in the interrogation of the captured North Korean soldiers by Ukrainian authorities. Lawmakers present at the meeting confirmed that the soldiers did not express any desire to resettle in South Korea. Furthermore, the agency stated its readiness to negotiate with Ukrainian officials should the soldiers ultimately request resettlement in South Korea. Since the late 1990s, approximately 34,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea, fleeing economic difficulties and political oppression.
Koo Byoungsam, spokesperson for the South Korean Unification Ministry, which oversees inter-Korean relationships, mentioned that aiding the North Korean soldiers in seeking asylum would necessitate legal evaluations under international law, as well as discussions with relevant countries. “At this stage, we don’t have anything conclusive to share,” Koo stated.
The intelligence agency estimated that nearly 300 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives, with around 2,700 more sustaining injuries while engaging Ukrainian forces, marking North Korea’s first significant military involvement since the Korean War of 1950 to 1953. The agency indicated that North Korean troops are encountering difficulties in adapting to modern warfare, particularly due to the outdated strategies employed by their Russian commanders, who have subjected them to assaults without adequate support. This information was conveyed by Lee Seong Kweun, a lawmaker who attended the agency’s briefing.
According to the agency, documents discovered on deceased North Korean soldiers suggested that they had received orders to end their lives instead of facing capture. A particularly dramatic account involved one North Korean soldier, who, faced with the likelihood of capture, reportedly shouted “General Kim Jong Un” while attempting to explode a hand grenade before he was shot dead.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the capture of the North Korean soldiers, which occurred shortly after Ukraine initiated a series of new assaults in the Kursk region to hold onto territory gained during a swift operation in August — marking the first time since World War II that Russian territory has been occupied. The subsequent Russian counteroffensive has severely stretched Ukrainian forces, leading to significant casualties while reclaiming over 40% of the 984 square kilometers initially held by Ukraine.
Moon Seong Mook, a retired South Korean brigadier general, remarked that the high mortality rate among North Korean soldiers was to be expected due to their inadequate preparation for the complexities of warfare in a foreign terrain like Kursk, which differs significantly from the mountainous landscapes of North Korea.
A major drawback for North Korean troops is their lack of autonomy, as they are being mobilized into combat scenarios under Russian command, in which they may struggle with unfamiliar tactics and face language barriers that hinder effective communication. Moon, who has extensive experience in military negotiations with North Korea, also indicated that North Korean forces might be deploying special teams to control dissent and prevent desertion.
“The current battlefield conditions, combined with advanced technologies like drones, create challenges that North Korean soldiers have never faced,” Moon explained. “They are also being deployed in open fields where cover is scarce, leading to high casualty rates during ongoing battles for territory.”
The longstanding economic struggles faced by North Korea have compelled many soldiers to rely on alternative means for sustenance, such as cultivating their own food or participating in labor-intensive projects, which may have adversely affected their training quality.
Despite these challenges, there are serious concerns in Seoul regarding North Korea’s engagement in the Ukraine crisis, as it could provide their forces with valuable combat experience, and Russia might share technology that could further strengthen North Korea’s already formidable nuclear capabilities.
