A suspected North Korean soldier reportedly captured by the Ukrainian military is seen in this undated photo captured from Telegram. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Ukrainian forces have likely captured a North Korean soldier in what could be the first instance of its kind, a Ukrainian news report has said, as North Korean troops were fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s special operations troops reportedly took the soldier during operations in Russia’s western front-line region of Kursk, the military-focused outlet Militarnyi reported Thursday (local time), without specifying when the incident occurred.
A photo of the purportedly captured North Korean soldier, who appeared to have sustained injuries, circulated on Telegram. Details of the soldier’s condition and status remained unknown.
If confirmed, it would mark the first time Ukraine has captured a North Korean soldier engaged in combat, according to Militarnyi.
Some 11,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia so far, with signs of preparations for further deployment of troops and military equipment, according to South Korean officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that North Korea has suffered more than 3,000 casualties in the Kursk region.
(Yonhap)
