The Ukrainian military urged North Korean troops to avoid unnecessary sacrifices in a foreign war and encouraged them to surrender or defect to ensure their safety.
On Oct. 23, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, through its Telegram channel “I Want to Live” (Хочу жить), which encourages Russian troops to surrender, addressed North Korean soldiers sent to fight for Russia’s Putin regime. The message urged North Korean soldiers not to die in vain on foreign soil and to avoid repeating the fate of the hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers who never made it home.
The channel also conveyed that Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps are prepared to accept soldiers regardless of their nationality, religion, or ideology, offering shelter, food, and warmth to those who surrender. It was noted that thousands of Russian soldiers who had already surrendered were receiving three hot meals a day and medical services as they awaited the end of the war.
The intelligence agency also released a video showcasing the prison facilities, stating that prisoners of war are housed in large, warm, and well-lit rooms, each equipped with a separate sleeping area. They further mentioned that meals are provided three times a day, consisting of meat, fresh vegetables, and bread. At the end of the video, contact details, including a messenger link, phone numbers, and a QR code, were provided for those interested in surrendering.
However, the Korean subtitles in the video appeared somewhat awkward, likely a result of direct translation from Ukrainian via translation software.
On the previous day, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, told U.S. military media outlet The War Zone (TWZ) that the first unit of North Korean troops was expected to arrive near Kursk on Oct. 23. Kursk is an area where Ukrainian forces have been advancing, having captured around 20 small towns and villages since August.
Ukrainian media have been reporting on the possibility of North Korean troop deployments since early this month, citing military and government officials. Ukrainian intelligence has consistently released additional information, urging the West to formulate a response. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service also officially announced on Oct. 18 that North Korea had decided to send around 12,000 troops to Russia, including four brigades, one of which is the elite “Storm Corps.”
The U.S., which had previously stated it was still investigating reports of North Korea’s troop deployment, officially acknowledged the situation for the first time. On Oct. 23, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in Rome stated that there is evidence supporting the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. NATO also revealed on the same day that alliance members had verified North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia.
