Seoul confirms Ukraine captured 2 North Korean soldiers

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service on Sunday backed up Ukraine’s account of having captured two wounded North Korean soldiers this week in Russia, after Kyiv said they were being questioned.

Ukraine, the United States, and South Korea have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help bolster Russian forces.

Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a statement it has “confirmed that the Ukrainian military captured two North Korean soldiers on January 9 in the Kursk battlefield in Russia”.

On Saturday, Ukrainian intelligence (SBU) released a video showing the two men in hospital bunks, one with bandaged hands and the other with a bandaged jaw.

A doctor at the detention centre said the first man also had a broken leg.

The SBU said the men had told interrogators they were experienced army soldiers, and one said he was sent to Russia for training, not fighting.