In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on January 11, 2025, that Ukrainian forces have captured two North Korean soldiers operating alongside Russian troops in Russia's Kursk region.
The captured soldiers, aged 20 and 26, are currently receiving medical treatment in Kyiv and are being interrogated by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), with assistance from South Korea's National Intelligence Service due to language barriers.
This marks the first publicized instance of live captures of North Korean soldiers since reports of their involvement in the conflict emerged in late 2024. Estimates suggest that over 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russia's military efforts in Ukraine.
The presence of North Korean soldiers in the conflict has raised international concerns, with Western leaders condemning the alliance between Russia and North Korea. The captured soldiers' fake Russian identities have exposed attempts to conceal their involvement.
As the situation develops, the international community continues to monitor the implications of foreign involvement in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.