South Korean Intelligence Service Confirms Ukrainian Arrest Of North Korean Soldiers

Illustration of North Korean soldiers. (Wikimedia Commons/Roman Harak)

JAKARTA - South Korean intelligence agency on Friday confirmed the arrest of a North Korean soldier (North Korea) injured by Ukraine, following news reports of a Ukrainian special operations force arresting a North Korean soldier in the first reported incident.

"Through the distribution of real-time information with friendly country intelligence organizations, (we) confirmed the arrest of an injured North Korean soldier and planned to thoroughly examine further developments," the National Intelligence Agency said in a brief release.

The confirmation comes as military-focused Ukrainian news outlet Militarnyi reported on Thursday (local time) that Ukrainian forces captured the army during an operation on Russia's western front line, Kursk, without specifying when the incident occurred.

A photo of a North Korean soldier 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.