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A North Korean soldier who was taken as a prisoner of warfare whereas combating for Russia in Ukraine on the time of his seize in January 2025 (left) after which in October (proper), when he spoke to the South Korean broadcaster MBC. (Left: @ZelenskyyUA on X; Proper: nonetheless from “PD Observe” on MBC)
One 12 months after two North Korean troopers had been captured by Ukrainian forces whereas combating alongside the Russian navy, a brand new interview with a South Korean broadcaster supplied an replace on their standing.
On Tuesday, MBC’s information program “PD Observe” broadcast Episode 1 (“Shadowy Military”) of “The Russian Conflict in Ukraine and the North Korean Army.” The episode centered on the North Korean navy’s essential function within the Russia-Ukraine warfare, now in its fourth 12 months.
The interview with two North Korean POWs was carried out in Ukraine final October by Kim Yeong-mi, a producer specializing in battle zones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that Ukraine was interrogating two North Korean troopers who had been wounded within the Kursk area of Russia on Jan. 11, 2025.
In pictures considered around the globe, a prisoner given the pseudonym of Ri Kang-un was proven with swollen lips and a bandage wrapped round his chin, whereas a prisoner referred to by the pseudonym of Paik Pyong-kang had bandaged arms.
That February, Folks Energy Occasion lawmaker Yu Yong-weon interviewed the 2 prisoners and handed alongside their want to defect to South Korea.
The report by “PD Observe” covers the present standing of the 2 prisoners a 12 months after their seize.
“Being alive is such an uncomfortable factor for me.” Nonetheless of Ri talking to MBC’s “PD Observe.”
Ri has recovered from his jaw harm, however a noticeable scar stays. He had been deployed to the combating in Kursk in December 2024. On the time of his seize, his arm had been fractured by one bullet, and his jaw had been fractured by one other.
Early within the interview, Ri was noticeably cautious of the interviewer.
“Being alive is such an uncomfortable factor for me,” he remarked.
Ri additionally spoke of his household. “I don’t know if my mom is alive now. I don’t know what has occurred to her due to me. I ought to by no means have been born.”
“Being taken prisoner is like being a traitor. It’s like turning in opposition to your nation.”
“Different troopers blew themselves up in order that they wouldn’t be taken prisoner, however I didn’t have an opportunity to do this. If I’d had a grenade, I may have died as an alternative of being captured. For the remainder of my life, I’ll be wracked with remorse over being unable to die.”
The horrors of warfare stay vivid for Ri.
“We had been deployed final of all. Everyone earlier than us had been taken out. Once I heard individuals speaking [about war], it didn’t look like such a foul factor. However after going to the battlefield and really turning into a casualty, my angle modified,” he stated.
“Different troopers blew themselves up in order that they wouldn’t be taken prisoner, however I didn’t have an opportunity to do this.” Nonetheless of Ri talking to MBC’s “PD Observe.”
“I felt concern and a substantial amount of pity. It was the primary time in my life I’d ever seen fight that was so bloody and gory. A buddy in entrance of me was killed by a suicide drone that blew his head and torso off. Once I went to examine on his physique, his coronary heart was nonetheless pounding and blood was spurting out,” Ri recalled.
“So a lot of my fellow troopers died on Russian soil, and I’m wondering what’s going to occur to all their stays,” he stated.
Whereas greater than 10,000 North Korean troopers had been reportedly deployed to the Russia-Ukraine warfare, Ri and Paik are the one two who’re identified to have been captured alive.
Paik, who has metallic pins in his legs and helps himself with crutches, additionally agreed to the interview. Paik was injured throughout fight by a drone assault. He was left on the sphere and captured by Ukrainian forces 4 days later.
Nonetheless of Paik talking to MBC’s “PD Observe.”
“I used to be combating for my life when an enemy drone got here straight for me. I dashed to take shelter in a rundown warehouse, however the drone noticed me and despatched one other over. That’s how I acquired injured,” he defined.
“We had loads of braveness however no fight expertise. So when the drones got here, we should always have shot them down or taken cowl, however as an alternative, with our comrades dying, we misplaced our cool. We had been so decided to get vengeance [for our comrades] that much more of us acquired killed,” Paik stated.
Paik hasn’t seen his mother and father since he joined the military. In actual fact, he stated his mother and father didn’t even know he’d been despatched to warfare.
“I wouldn’t be a superb son if my mother and father had been to undergo due to me. I believe a fast demise could be higher than that,” he remarked.
“We’re all individuals, and no one desires to die. No one takes life as casually as that. However when individuals are pushed right into a nook, that’s the sort of selection they make,” he added.
“We’re all individuals, and no one desires to die. No one takes life as casually as that.” Nonetheless of Paik talking to MBC’s “PD Observe.”
By Jang Hyeon-eun, workers reporter
Please direct questions or feedback to [english@hani.co.kr]
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