North Korean soldiers in Russia misled about battlefield enemy
North Korean soldiers in Russia were convinced they were fighting against the South Korean army. This information was provided by one of the soldiers in an interview with "Chosun Ilbo." The soldier, who ended up as a prisoner of war in Ukraine, is considering asylum in South Korea.
Soldiers from North Korea who were sent to the front in the Kursk region of Russia were misinformed about their adversary. As one military personnel revealed in a conversation with the South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo, they were told they were fighting the South Korean army.
Soldiers trapped in misinformation
A North Korean soldier, known only as Ri, admitted he was unaware he would be fighting against Ukraine. He was informed that going to Russia was "foreign training." He arrived in the Kursk region in December of the previous year and underwent basic training that did not include strategies for combating drones.
Ri disclosed that according to North Korea's Ministry of Security, Ukrainian drones were piloted by South Korean soldiers. In battles that began on January 5, the first wave of soldiers suffered heavy losses due to drone attacks and artillery shelling.
Dramatic experiences of North Korean soldiers on the front
The 26-year-old soldier was seriously injured and blamed Russian artillery for the "unnecessary casualties," as it did not provide adequate support. Ri confessed that all his comrades were killed, and he survived only by chance.
In an interview with "Chosun Ilbo," Ri admitted that being captured is regarded as treason in the North Korean army. He had served as a reconnaissance sniper since 2015 and planned to pursue studies after his service ended.
Asylum in South Korea?
Ri is considering applying for asylum in South Korea.
I have made up my mind 80 percent ... Above all, I will seek refuge and am thinking about going to the Republic of Korea - he said.
The Ukrainian army reported that on January 11, it captured two North Korean soldiers. The government in Seoul confirmed that it would accept all North Korean prisoners of war from Ukraine.
North Korean soldiers are our nationals according to the Constitution - said an anonymous official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, quoted by Yonhap News Agency.
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