These are the brutal and near-suicidal tactics of North Korean soldiers, who have, since November, been deployed to repel Ukraine’s incursion in the southern Russian border region of Kursk.
Up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, according to Western intelligence reports, which say around 4,000 troops have been killed or injured.
Ahead of a likely escalation before any peace talks, Moscow is experiencing manpower shortages and Pyongyang is expected to send reinforcements, according to Ukrainian defense intelligence.
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Ukraine releases footage of alleged North Korean soldiers captured in Kursk
CNN has gained a rare insight into the world of North Korean troops fighting for Russia in interviews with Ukrainian special operations forces who told CNN the North Koreans they faced in intense fighting did not surrender.
In one video, shared with CNN, a Ukrainian soldier approaches an injured North Korean soldier who was lying face down, during clashes. As the Ukrainian pulls the North Korean soldier’s leg to see if he is still alive, kra30 at the North Korean lets out a scream in Korean before detonating a grenade next to his head.
The Ukrainians swiftly open fire and dive back. South Korean lawmakers were told by the country’s intelligence service, who have provided assistance to Kyiv, that the soldier in the video’s last words were: “General Kim Jong Un.”