Ukrainian paratroopers reveal how they captured North Korean prisoner of war

Servicemen of the 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) detailed the capture of a North Korean soldier in the Kursk region, who attempted suicide to avoid captivity, as writes the Airborne Assault Forces on Telegram.

The message read: “It’s no secret that the North Korean military does not surrender: they are ready to commit suicide to avoid being captured by Ukrainian soldiers. »

According to soldiers of the 95th Brigade, the intense assault by DPRK forces began early in the morning and lasted until the evening.

A paratrooper with the call sign “Ded” (grandfather) described the violent assault, while another soldier, Serhiy, highlighted the critical role of drones:

“Drones have helped a lot. The operators told us where the North Koreans were trying to penetrate the tree line. The drone drops and our mortar support have been very effective,” he said.

Despite the ferocity of the assault, Ukrainian forces maintained their position until reinforcements arrived. Realizing that their advance had failed, the DPRK soldiers began to retreat.

The Ukrainians then repelled the remaining troops using grenade launchers, machine guns and mortars, supported by a Canadian-made Roshel armored vehicle.

After the battle, a drone operator spotted a moving body and directed paratroopers to the scene. The team initially thought he was an injured Ukrainian due to the AFU scarf he was wearing, but upon closer inspection they realized his uniform and armor were not worn. were not Ukrainian.

The soldier, a North Korean, carried a grenade and a knife on his jacket. Ukrainian troops signaled him to disarm. Among his belongings they found a sausage, probably a ration he carried into battle.

Ded reported that the prisoner had injuries to his jaw and arm and assumed that someone had helped him, as he would not have been able to treat his injuries alone with only one functioning hand.

The paratroopers brought the prisoner to a location where they awaited transport. Although he remained calm at first, the North Korean soldier panicked when the vehicle arrived.

“We got there and waited for the car,” Ded said. “The prisoner was very calm. But when the car stopped, he was scared. We almost had to force him out of the trench.

The prisoner then ran towards a concrete pillar near the road, hitting his head on it at full speed. He probably lost consciousness, because he then stopped moving. Despite this, the paratroopers managed to load him into the vehicle.

Another AFU soldier, Pavlo, later reported that their comrades had confirmed by radio that the prisoner had been received safely. He received medical assistance, food and even requested that Korean-language films be shown to him.

Pavlo also pointed out the inferior quality of the equipment of the DPRK troops compared to that of the Ukrainians, while Serhiy compared North Korean tactics to those used by the Russians at the start of the war.

“They are trying to crush us with numbers. There is no particular tactic,” Serhiy said.

“They fight like the Soviet army. They only backed down at the very last critical moment, when our reinforcement group arrived and we outnumbered them. At that time, they already had injuries and deaths,” Serhiy added.

Numerous reports suggest that DPRK soldiers are under standing orders not to surrender. Some are killed by their comrades to avoid capture, while others commit suicide by cutting their wrists or detonating grenades.

Pavlo said: “They fight hard and fast. The guys are young and athletic. Some have been in the DPRK army for many years.”

The paratroopers’ accounts match those of Ukraine’s special operations forces (SSO), which recently captured another North Korean soldier.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, a team from Ukraine’s 8th SSO Regiment encountered a young North Korean soldier injured during a battle. After repulsing an attack, the team discovered the injured soldier lying on the ground with a leg wound, abandoned by his comrades.

Upon seeing the Ukrainian troops, the soldier raised a hand grenade and waved it in the air. The team’s commander, a captain known by the call sign “Green,” cautiously approached the man, trying to defuse the situation. He began speaking phrases in Korean that he had learned in such encounters, then switched to Russian and used hand gestures to assure the soldier of his peaceful intentions.

Green recalled saying, “Brother, it’s all right,” later adding, “We treated him like a child.” We didn’t want him to get hurt. The team was fully aware that the grenade could also pose a deadly risk to them.

After a few tense moments, the North Korean soldier, who reportedly said he had been injured by a drone strike, finally returned the grenade. Ukrainian troops treated his wound and prepared him for evacuation.

These two North Korean prisoners were captured in the Kursk region, as reported by the Kyiv Post on January 11. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the troops for their actions, stressing that the prisoners were receiving appropriate medical care in accordance with international law.

A spokesperson for Ukraine’s security services (SBU) called the captures “irrefutable proof of North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine”, despite Pyongyang’s denials.

A South Korean official, cited by the Wall Street Journal, highlighted the immense risks Ukrainian forces take when capturing North Koreans, noting that these soldiers often choose death over captivity. The official added that Russia and North Korea are actively covering up the number of North Korean casualties in Putin’s war.