South Korean lawmakers reported on Monday that approximately 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 2,700 others injured while fighting for Russia against Ukrainian forces. The lawmakers attributed the high casualty rates among North Korean soldiers to a lack of understanding of modern warfare tactics and their utilization by Russia. According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, North Korean soldiers have been ordered to commit suicide by detonating explosives to avoid capture. Ukrainian and U.S. officials estimate that around 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to the Russian region of Kursk, where recent clashes have occurred. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed readiness to exchange captured North Korean soldiers for Ukrainians held in Russia. The captured soldiers are believed to provide valuable information about North Korea, a reclusive nuclear-armed state led by Kim Jong Un. Reports suggest that the North Korean troops were deployed as reinforcements for Russia, possibly in exchange for technical assistance with North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Despite their large army size, North Korean soldiers are said to be poorly prepared and lacking sufficient training for the current conflict.
Yoo, now 22, and Ahn, 24, swam for six hours in the dark of night to flee North Korea and seek refuge in South Korea in 2016. Their daring escape was prompted by orders from Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, who had commanded them to venture into the treacherous waters to carry out a mission. Despite the inherent risks, the two young soldiers knew that their survival depended on making it to the shores of South Korea.
“They sent all these young people out, and they will most definitely be sacrificed,” said Yoo, reflecting on the fate that awaited many of their comrades who had been similarly dispatched on dangerous missions by the regime. The oppressive regime’s disregard for the lives of its soldiers was a stark reality that Yoo and Ahn had witnessed firsthand, compelling them to take matters into their own hands and plot their escape.
Their harrowing journey culminated in their capture by Ukrainian forces, marking a significant turning point in the conflict that had been brewing for almost three years. Yoo and Ahn were the first North Korean soldiers to be captured alive by Ukraine since the North Korean military had become embroiled in the war, intensifying the already volatile situation in the region.
Tragically, a fellow North Korean soldier who had been captured by Ukrainian forces in December had succumbed to his injuries, underscoring the grave risks faced by those caught in the crossfire of the conflict. The toll of the war was evident, with reports emerging of North Korean soldiers resorting to taking their own lives rather than surrendering to Ukrainian forces, driven by the fear of brutal reprisals against their families back in North Korea in the event of capture.
The unfolding events shed light on the brutal realities faced by those living under the oppressive regime of Kim Jong Un and the desperate measures taken by individuals like Yoo and Ahn to break free from its grip. Their courageous escape highlighted the lengths to which individuals were willing to go in search of freedom and a better life, even at the risk of facing unimaginable dangers and uncertainties along the way.
Stella Kim and Janis Mackey Frayer provided on-the-ground reporting from Seoul, South Korea, offering insights into the experiences and motivations of North Korean defectors like Yoo and Ahn. Jennifer Jett contributed reporting from Hong Kong, capturing the global impact of the conflict and the plight of individuals caught up in the turmoil.
The accounts of Yoo and Ahn’s daring escape serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and oppression, shedding light on the resilience and bravery of those who defy tyranny in pursuit of freedom and justice. Their story resonates as a testament to the indomitable spirit of individuals who refuse to be silenced or suppressed, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
