No combat contact between Ukrainian military and North Koreans yet, Ukraine's defence forces say
Ukraine’s defence forces have not yet had combat contact with North Korean military personnel and have not taken any prisoners on the Kursk front.
Source: Vadym Mysnyk, spokesman for the Siversk Operational Strategic Group, during the national joint 24/7 newscast
Details: Journalists asked the official whether the defence forces had recorded the presence of North Korean military personnel in their operational area and if the Russian command was attempting to redeploy these soldiers closer to Kursk Oblast.
Quote: "The intelligence data is indeed present, but as of now, we do not have information regarding any combat contact or prisoners, and there are no reports about North Korean military personnel [being captured or fought against] at this time."
Background:
- On 8 October, the South Korean Ministry of Defence said that North Korea was likely to send some of its regular armed forces to Ukraine in support of Russia.
- On 13 October, Zelenskyy said that North Korea was supplying Russia not only with weapons but also with personnel, and called on partners to increase their support for Ukraine. On 17 October, Zelenskyy stressed that Russia intended to involve about 10,000 soldiers from North Korea in the war against Ukraine.
- On 18 October, Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, confirmed that about 11,000 North Korean infantrymen were currently undergoing training in Russia’s east. They will be ready to take part in combat actions against Ukraine as early as 1 November.
- Ukrainian intelligence expected the arrival of the first North Korean troops on the Kursk front on 23 October.
- On 28 October, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia, particularly in Kursk Oblast.
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