SEOUL: South Korea’s Nationwide Intelligence Service on Sunday (Jan 12) backed up Ukraine’s account of getting captured two wounded North Korean troopers this week in Russia, after Kyiv stated they have been being questioned.
Ukraine, the US and South Korea have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending greater than 10,000 troopers to assist bolster Russian forces.
Seoul’s Nationwide Intelligence Service (NIS) stated in an announcement it has “confirmed that the Ukrainian army captured two North Korean troopers on Jan 9 within the Kursk battlefield in Russia”.
On Saturday, Ukrainian intelligence (SBU) launched a video exhibiting the 2 males in hospital bunks, one with bandaged arms and the opposite with a bandaged jaw.
A physician on the detention centre stated the primary man additionally had a damaged leg.
The SBU stated the lads had instructed interrogators they have been skilled military troopers, and one stated he was despatched to Russia for coaching, not combating.
However Kyiv didn’t current direct proof that the captured males have been North Korean and AFP was unable to independently confirm their nationalities.
South Korea’s affirmation added weight to Kyiv’s account.
The NIS equally stated one of many captured troopers revealed throughout his interrogation that he obtained army coaching from Russian forces after arriving there in November.
“He initially believed he was being despatched for coaching, realising upon arrival in Russia that he had been deployed,” the NIS stated.
The soldier stated North Korean forces had skilled “important losses throughout battle”.
Based on Seoul’s intelligence company, one of many males “went with out meals or water for 4 to five days earlier than being captured”. The NIS stated it could proceed to work with the SBU to share info on North Korean fighters in Ukraine.
Neither Russia nor North Korea has reacted to the intelligence accounts.
