Russia has been hiding the presence of 12,000 North Korean troops sent to support its war on Ukraine. The soldiers were given Russian uniforms, weapons, and falsified documents to maintain secrecy.
Two captured North Korean soldiers revealed crucial details about their units and Pyongyang. One soldier, Sergeant Lee Jong Nam, served in a sniper reconnaissance platoon within the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and was injured during combat on January 8.
The second soldier’s identity remains unknown, but his testimony described being left exposed for days after being wounded in the leg. He said he didn’t remember his fabricated Russian military ID and believed he was participating in a training exercise.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Moscow for using these soldiers, describing them as being raised in an “information vacuum” and exploited to prolong the war. The capture of North Korean troops is significant, with Ukraine facing challenges including Russia’s advances in the east.
The Kremlin allegedly supplies Kim Jong Un’s regime with torpedoes, drone technology, and satellite data. Ukrainian military intelligence believes the conflict serves as a training ground for North Korean soldiers, who are gaining valuable experience in modern warfare. Despite casualties, their morale remains high, and some have resorted to dying by suicide to avoid capture.
Ukrainian fighters acknowledge the North Koreans’ skills, including their competence as shooters and understanding of combined warfare tactics. The revelation of Russia’s secret North Korean troops highlights Moscow’s efforts to hide its involvement in the conflict.
Source: https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-when-russians-hide-north-koreans-shoot-how-pyongyangs-troops-are-reshaping-8633581