The National Intelligence Service said on the 27th that it confirmed the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier through real-time information sharing with allied intelligence agencies and noted that it plans to closely examine the subsequent situation.
The National Intelligence Service responded to a Yonhap News query regarding the report by a Ukrainian local media outlet on the capture of a North Korean soldier on the Kursk battlefield.
According to Militaryarni, a Ukrainian military specialist media outlet, on the 26th (local time), the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF) captured a North Korean soldier during operations in Kursk, Russia, and released a photo of the soldier via Telegram.
This is the first confirmation of the capture of a North Korean soldier deployed in the Ukraine war.
North Korea has dispatched over 11,000 soldiers to Russia, who have been deployed in the Kursk region occupied by Ukraine, and have recently been actively engaged on the front lines. As a result, numerous North Korean soldier casualties are occurring.
With the confirmation of the North Korean soldier's capture, it remains to be seen if the government will participate in interrogation and other processes.
On Oct. 29, during the National Assembly intelligence committee audit, the National Intelligence Service was reported to have responded positively to the suggestion that South Korean personnel might need to communicate if North Korean soldiers are captured or surrender.
Additionally, it is anticipated that the government will consider accepting requests for defection from captured North Korean soldiers.
During the national audit, the National Intelligence Service stated regarding the government response to North Korean soldiers' defection requests, "It is naturally required by international and domestic law for our country to accept such requests. While there are aspects under the influence of North Korean power that require careful consideration, respecting the individual's will and reviewing the defection request is also necessary."