Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, made the revelation on Friday that” some” injured North Vietnamese soldiers had died as a result of being taken hostage by Russian troops. He criticized Russia for using “minimal defense” when they were deployed into battle.
Ukraine and its Western friends had claimed that thousands of troops have been dispatched by North Korea to boost Russia’s defense.
” Now there were reports about many troops from North Korea. Our men managed to take them slave. But they were really severely maimed and could not be resuscitated”, Zelenskyy said in an hour address.
A North Vietnamese man who was captured while fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine was discovered by South Korea’s intelligence firm on Friday, according to a report released from the intelligence organization.
The actual amount of North Koreans who perished after being taken by Russian forces was unknown, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine. Nevertheless, he recently said that roughly 3, 000 North Vietnamese soldiers had been “killed or wounded” while supporting Russia’s defense, particularly in the northern Kursk borders region, where Ukraine launched a surprise invasion in August.
Prior to this time, South Korea’s spy agency had estimated the number of North Korean casualties to be 1, 000, citing unfamiliar battlefield conditions and a failure to protect against drone attacks. Officials told the White House on Friday that North Korean troops were being sent on futile missions by Russian generals who thought they were “expensive,” and that the White House supported these claims.
According to John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, some North Korean soldiers have reportedly taken their own lives rather than been captured because they fear reprisals might be brought on by their respective families in North Korea.
Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, North Korea and Russia have recently strengthened their military ties.
A significant defence agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow, signed in June, took effect this month. The pact was described as a “breakthrough document,” according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un was informed by North Korean state media on Friday that Putin addressed him with a message saying,” Our bilateral ties have been strengthened since our talks in Pyongyang in June.”
The South Korean military believes that North Korea wants to modernize its conventional weapons arsenal by gaining combat experience from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In exchange for troop deployments, NATO chief Mark Rutte has also accused Moscow of supporting Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs.
According to a report released by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday, North Korea is allegedly preparing for the rotation of soldiers or for additional soldiers to be deployed, and that it is providing Russia with” 240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery.”
Pyongyang’s involvement in the conflict has drawn warnings from Seoul. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is currently suspended, suggested in November that the country might consider providing weapons to Ukraine, breaking its long-standing policy of not providing arms to countries in active conflict.
( with input from agency )
