‘I did not know who I might be preventing’ — North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine speaks in new footage

President Volodymyr Zelensky launched on Jan. 20 new footage of the interrogation of a North Korean soldier captured by the Ukrainian navy.

Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean troopers in Russia's Kursk Oblast earlier in January. They’re at the moment within the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Kyiv. Each have been wounded and are reportedly receiving medical consideration.

The prisoner of battle (POW) within the newly launched footage stated he arrived in Russia on a cargo ferry with over 100 troopers. He was not skilled with Russian navy gear however claimed that a number of different North Korean troopers have been taught to take action.

He joined the military on the age of 17 and served on conscript obligation in a reconnaissance battalion, and stated his mom doesn’t know the place he’s now. He additionally stated he didn’t know he was going to battle, or know who he can be preventing in opposition to.

The total dialog carried out by way of a translator is as follows:

Interrogator: Did you and different North Korean servicemen bear coaching on the usage of Russian weapons and navy gear? In that case, the place and when?

POW/Translator: There have been just a few troopers from North Korea who have been skilled to make use of heavy Russian gear, however I personally didn’t bear such coaching.

Interrogator: The place did you serve? By which unit?

POW: (I work) in a reconnaissance battalion.

Interrogator: Does your mom know the place you’re?

POW: No she doesn't.

Interrogator: How many individuals have been on the ship that transported you from North Korea to Russia?

POW: Roughly over 100.

Interrogator: What sort of ship was it?

POW: I consider it was a Russian ferry, however not a navy vessel — only one for transporting cargo.

Interrogator: Had been solely individuals on board or was there cargo as effectively?

POW: It was solely us.

Interrogator: What number of seats have been within the prepare automotive you traveled in?

POW: The identical individuals who have been on the ferry have been additionally on the prepare — there have been no others, it was the identical group.

Interrogator: Had been there beds within the carriage, what number of?

POW: There have been six tables and beds. In complete there have been about 100 individuals.

Interrogator: Inform us in regards to the starting of your service within the ranks of the North Korean armed forces. Particularly, when did you start your navy service? How did it occur and so forth? The place did you serve?

POW: Usually, after ending faculty all males be part of the navy. I additionally joined the military after ending faculty and joined the reconnaissance division and stayed there for my whole service.

Interrogator: How previous have been you whenever you began your service?

POW: I used to be 17 years previous.

Interrogator: Are you serving underneath contract or conscription?

POW: Not underneath contract, conscription.

‘He wanted to live’ — How Ukraine captured a North Korean POW, told by the soldiers who took partEditor’s note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. It was a month-long mission with one primary goal — capturing a North Korean soldier alive. One of the biggest obstacles facing the…The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Interrogator: Do you voluntarily want to give truthful testimony in regards to the circumstances of your participation in hostilities in opposition to Ukraine?

POW: To begin with, as I've already stated, I didn't know earlier than coming to Russia that I’d be preventing right here, in Russia and I didn't even know who we have been preventing in opposition to.

Interrogator: What have you learnt in regards to the losses suffered by North Korean models throughout fight operations in opposition to the Armed Forces of Ukraine? By which battles, from what forms of weapons, and what number of casualties — each wounded and irrecoverable?

POW: There have been quite a lot of casualties once I was there alone, ranging from the battle on Jan. 3. General, it's exhausting to reply about such large-scale numbers.

Interrogator: What do you know in regards to the world exterior of North Korea?

POW: Not a lot.

Interrogator: Do you know something about South Korea? What do you know?

POW: I solely know that South Korea has fewer mountains than North Korea.

North Korean troops have been deployed to Kursk Oblast final fall to assist Russian forces in opposition to a Ukrainian incursion launched on Aug. 6. Ukrainian troops proceed to function within the area, leveraging their place for potential future negotiations.

South Korea's Nationwide Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that North Korean casualties have reached 300 killed and a pair of,700 wounded, attributing the losses to insufficient coaching and ineffective counter-drone techniques.

The NIS additionally reported that some North Korean troopers have been pressured to commit suicide to keep away from seize by Ukrainian forces. White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby echoed these claims on Dec. 27, including that captured North Korean troops worry extreme retaliation in opposition to their households in the event that they give up.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have formally acknowledged the deployment, which is the most recent transfer in Moscow's ever-increasing — and humiliating — reliance on Pyongyang to bolster its navy, following long-running shipments of artillery shells and ballistic missiles.

‘They’ve overcome the shock’ — North Korean soldiers adapting to war in Russia’s Kursk OblastSince December, North Korean troops have been taking part in active combat on Russia’s side in the country’s Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine has held territory since August. This unprecedented move, made against the backdrop of a deepening Moscow-Pyongyang alliance, provided some insight into how North…The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek