In a groundbreaking interview with The Chosun Daily, two North Korean prisoners of war shared their painful experiences after being captured by Ukrainian forces last month. This marks the first time that North Korean soldiers deployed to fight in Russia have spoken to the media, which is extremely rare considering previous reports suggesting that soldiers have opted to “blow themselves up with grenades rather than risk capture.”
STRUGGLES AND SACRIFICE
Captured on January 9 this year, both soldiers have since been kept in solitary confinement. Mr. Ri, a 26-year-old reconnaissance sniper, and Mr. Baek, a 21-year-old rifleman, were both sent to Kursk, Russia, in late 2024. Initially, it was reported that North Korean troops in Russia belonged to the elite Storm Corps, but Ri and Baek revealed their affiliation with the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s intelligence agency. This new information sheds light on the true extent of Pyongyang’s involvement in supporting Russia’s war effort, highlighting the development of specialized intelligence personnel rather than just elite combat troops.
In North Korea, most families only have one or two children, meaning nearly all of the killed soldiers were only sons. The two POW boys are no exception. Baek, who lost his father the year he enlisted, left behind his 50-year-old widowed mother for war. While Ri, from a relatively privileged area in Pyongyang, shared the difficult circumstances of his upbringing before being promised overseas training as a student, just prior to his deployment in October 2024. Fighting back tears, he reflected on the countless times he had faced death since being sent to war and expressed concern for his parents’ poor health and well-being, fearing that they might be forced to leave Pyongyang if the North Korean government learned of his capture, as “being captured is seen as betrayal.”
BRUTALITY OF WAR AND DEATHS
The interview revealed the emotional and physical toll on the young soldiers. Ri, injured in his right arm and jaw during a battle in Kursk, recounted how a bullet shattered his jaw and left him unconscious. By the time he was interviewed, he had made a remarkable recovery, though his speech remained slow and somewhat slurred. Ri described the challenges faced during combat, including inadequate training for drone warfare. He recalled, “Our training emphasized speed – running, hiding, or shooting drones from the ground. We never learned how to take them down effectively.” He noted the significant lack of Russian artillery support and the severe casualties suffered during the first wave of the assault. Ri also expressed his curiosity about the current situation in Kursk and whether it had been liberated, highlighting the significance of their mission to protect uranium and nuclear sites in Kursk.
Ri further revealed that North Korean security agents in Kursk spread misinformation, claiming "all Ukrainian military drone operators were actually South Korean soldiers." He remembered Ministry of State Security officers embedding in their units to enforce control, and how the false idea of fighting their long-term enemy, South Korea, fueled their desperation in combat. He shared additional details about encounters with reconnaissance drones, suicide drones and “devil drones,” which are large drones carrying bombs equipped with infrared sensors that could detect targets and drop grenades with devastating precision.
In particular, Ri recalled an incident at 3 a.m. where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack with armored vehicles and machine guns, forcing their retreat. As they did, a drone attacked, killing five of Ri's comrades, leaving him the only survivor. After the attack, Ri found himself lost in the pitch dark, unfamiliar terrain. He thought he was heading back to his area but went the wrong way. While trying to find his way back, Ri was captured due to his inability to use his arms and lack of weapons. Reflecting on his ordeal, Ri shared, "I couldn't carry anything heavy because of my injuries... Even if I had tried to resist, it was obvious I would have been captured. If I had a grenade, maybe I would have tried to take my own life."
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
Ri expressed his deep concern for his future and his parents, whom he missed dearly. Despite being stationed near Pyongyang, he had not been home in 10 years and only spoke to his parents over the phone. Despite the grim circumstances, he clung to dreams of attending university after his military service. Ri revealed his plan to apply for asylum and go to South Korea, hoping they would accept him, “having barely survived, I’m a prisoner. (Sighs) I just want to live up to my parents’ expectations and fulfill my dream. I want to see it blossom. (Sighs) I’m still young.”
The psychological and emotional burden of battling abroad inevitably weighed heavily on these young North Korean soldiers. Adding to this immense hardship is the fact that all who died succumbed either in combat or to suicide – often by self-detonation. This frequently resulted in bodies so ravaged they were described as "nothing but headless or half-torn," a devastating reality for families unable to even bring home their children’s bodies for burial. As Ri and Baek’s stories unfold, the harrowing experiences they faced, coupled with the pain endured by North Korean families from losing their only child, underscore the catastrophic consequences of this ongoing war.
