First Reported Capture of North Korean Soldier by Ukraine Confirmed by South Korean Intel

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed Ukraine’s capture of a wounded North Korean soldier during battles in the Russian Kursk region, South Korean media Yonhap reported on December 27.

“Through real-time information sharing with a friendly nation’s intelligence organization, [we] confirmed the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier and plans to thoroughly examine the subsequent development,” the NIS stated in a brief release.

A photo allegedly showing the captured North Korean fighter, visibly injured, has been circulating the internet, though further details about the soldier’s status remain unknown.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces revealed that North Korean special forces deployed in Russia’s Kursk region are using live bait tactics to counter Ukrainian drones.