South Korean Intelligence Confirms North Korean Army Arrested In Ukraine Killed For Injury

JAKARTA - South Korean intelligence agency (South Korea) confirmed that a North Korean soldier who was caught on the Russian-Ukraine battlefield died on Friday from his serious injury.

"We confirmed through the intelligence organization of a friendly country, a North Korean soldier, who was arrested alive on December 26, died a few moments ago because his wounds were getting worse," the National Intelligence Agency (NIS) said.

The statement comes hours after the agency initially confirmed the arrest of a North Korean soldier injured by Ukraine, following news reports of Ukrainian special operations forces arresting a North Korean fighter in the first reported incident.

NIS confirmed the report was valid.

Earlier, military-focused Ukrainian news media Militarnyi reported on Thursday (local time) that Ukrainian forces arrested the army during an operation on Russia's western front line, Kursk, without specifying when the incident occurred.

Photos of North Korean soldiers suspected of being arrested, apparently injured, circulated on Telegram. Details of the condition and status of the soldier are still unknown.

If confirmed, this would mark the first time Ukraine has arrested a North Korean soldier involved in the fighting, according to Militarnyi.

It is known that about 11,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia so far, with signs of preparation for the deployment of further military troops and equipment, according to South Korean officials.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said North Korea had suffered more than 3,000 casualties in the Kursk region.