Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces have provided revealing interviews to South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, offering rare insights into North Korea’s military operations in Russia’s war effort.
The soldiers, identified only as Ri, 26, and Baek, 21, belonged to North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), an elite intelligence and sabotage unit.
The soldiers’ candid discussions suggest a lack of prisoner-of-war training and highlight potential weaknesses in North Korea’s ideological control. Both men revealed they were initially told they were being sent to Russia for training, not combat. They described the RGB’s rigorous physical preparation, including mountain marches, endurance drills, and extensive shooting practice.
Their accounts confirmed Ukrainian reports about North Korean forces’ superior fitness and marksmanship compared to Russian units, though they faced challenges coordinating with Russian forces, particularly regarding artillery support. The soldiers described the prevalent use of drones in combat, with Baek claiming confidence in shooting them down while Ri portrayed them as “demonic” and difficult to counter.
Both soldiers suffered significant losses in their units. Ri’s six-person team lost five members in an ambush, while Baek noted that about half of his 10-person unit was killed. The interviews revealed that many North Korean soldiers chose suicide over capture, considering surrender a betrayal.
The captured soldiers, who had never left North Korea before their deployment to Russia, showed signs of changing perspectives after their capture. Ri expressed his intention to defect to South Korea, while Baek was considering it. Both voiced concerns about their families in North Korea, with Ri particularly worried about his parents being forced to leave Pyongyang due to his capture.
Retired South Korean General Chun In-bum noted how quickly the soldiers’ indoctrination appeared to crumble under humane treatment, calling North Korea “really, really brittle.” However, Bob Collins, a former U.S. Army interrogator, cautioned that most North Korean soldiers remain deeply committed to their training, with many choosing suicide over capture.
Read more: Captured prisoners in Ukraine reveal North Korea’s surprising fragility
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