Round 300 North Korean troopers have been killed and a couple of,700 wounded whereas preventing in Russia’s battle towards Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker stated Monday, citing info from Seoul’s spy company.
Seoul has beforehand claimed North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has despatched greater than 10,000 troopers as “cannon fodder” to assist Moscow struggle Kyiv, in return for Russian technical help for Pyongyang’s closely sanctioned weapons and satellite tv for pc programmes.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Kyiv had captured two North Korean troopers, releasing video of the injured combatants being interrogated and elevating the potential for a prisoner swap for captured Ukrainian troops.
“The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia has reportedly expanded to incorporate the Kursk area, with estimates suggesting that casualties amongst North Korean forces have surpassed 3,000,” lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun instructed reporters after a briefing from the spy company.
This contains “roughly 300 deaths and a couple of,700 accidents,” Lee stated, after a briefing from Seoul’s Nationwide Intelligence Service.
The troopers, reportedly from North Korea’s elite Storm Corps, have been ordered to kill themselves slightly than be taken prisoner, Lee stated.
“Notably, memos discovered on deceased troopers point out that the North Korean authorities pressured them to commit suicide or self-detonate earlier than seize,” he stated.
He added that among the troopers had been granted “amnesty” or needed to hitch North Korea’s ruling Employees’ Celebration, hoping to enhance their lot by preventing.
One North Korean soldier who was about to be captured shouted “Common Kim Jong Un” and tried to detonate a grenade, Lee stated, including that he was shot and killed.
The NIS evaluation additionally revealed that the North Korean troopers have “a lack of expertise of recent warfare,” and are being utilized by Russia in a way resulting in “the excessive variety of casualties,” the lawmaker stated.
– Troopers captured –
Lee — talking for South Korea’s intelligence committee in parliament — stated within the coming 12 months US president-elect Donald Trump, who has beforehand tried to woo North Korean chief Kim Jong Un, “might push for dialogue… as soon as once more”.
He additionally stated Kim might “weigh the potential for a go to to Russia within the first half of this 12 months” after assembly Russian President Vladimir Putin in late 2023.
In a submit on social media platform X Sunday, Zelensky stated: “Ukraine is able to hand over Kim Jong Un’s troopers to him if he can manage their trade for our warriors who’re being held captive in Russia.”
There would “undoubtedly be extra” North Korean troopers captured by Kyiv, he added.
“For these North Korean troopers who don’t want to return, there could also be different choices obtainable,” stated Zelensky.
Ukraine, america and South Korea have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending greater than 10,000 troopers to assist bolster Russian forces.
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has acknowledged that North Koreans have been deployed to struggle towards Ukraine.
The 2 nations have boosted their army cooperation since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
On a go to to Seoul this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Washington believed Russia was increasing house cooperation with North Korea in trade for its troop contribution in preventing Ukraine.
Washington’s high diplomat stated america additionally believed Russia “could also be shut” to formally accepting North Korea’s standing as a nuclear energy.
The video posted by Zelensky of the interrogation of the 2 North Korean prisoners of battle reveals one mendacity in a bunk mattress and the opposite sitting up with a bandage round his jaw.
One man will be heard talking to a Ukrainian official by way of an interpreter, saying that he didn’t know he was going to struggle in a battle with Ukraine and that his commanders “instructed him it was simply coaching”.
In translated feedback, one of many males says he desires to return to North Korea.
The opposite says he’ll do what he’s instructed however, if given the prospect, desires to dwell in Ukraine.
AFP
