Who are the North Korean Soldiers Deployed to Russia? Analysis by a Former 'Storm Corps' Member (1) "POWs Must Be Extremely Confused - Consider Their and Their Families' Human Rights"

Two North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia have been captured by Ukrainian forces. According to video footage released by Ukrainian authorities, the prisoners said they "didn't know they were going to war." Who exactly are these young North Korean soldiers? How do they perceive fighting Ukrainian forces in faraway Russia? We examine this with a North Korean defector who served in the elite "Storm Corps" of the Korean People's Army.　(By HONG Mari)

◆ Are the POWs a 25-year-old Junior Officer and a 19-year-old Regular Soldier?

According to Ukrainian authorities, the two prisoners were born in 1999 and 2005. As they are likely 25 and 19 years old in full years, ASIAPRESS uses these ages.

Soldier A, age 25, stated in Ukrainian interrogation that he enlisted in 2016 as a sniper, while Soldier B, age 19, enlisted in 2021 as a rifleman. This would mean service periods of about 8 years for A and 3 years for B.

ASIAPRESS reporter Kang Ji-won, who enlisted in the late 1990s and served in the "Storm Corps," suggests that the 25-year-old Soldier A appears to be a junior officer. This is because typically one serves as a new recruit for 2 years, followed by 2 years at military officer school for non-commissioned officer training. Since North Korean men usually enlist at age 17, it's clear that the 19-year-old Soldier B is an inexperienced regular soldier with little worldly knowledge.

◆ "Didn't Know We Were Fighting Ukraine"

In the interrogation video released by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), both prisoners' responses indicate they knew nothing about the combat.

Soldier B shook his head when asked if he knew where he was. When asked if he knew he was fighting against Ukraine, he again shook his head and replied quietly, "They said we were doing realistic training." His wide-eyed expression and thin voice revealed extreme confusion and fear.

Soldier A cannot speak due to a jaw injury. When asked if his parents knew where he was, he shook his head.

◆ The Two POWs Must Be in a State of Confusion

The video also asked if they wanted to return to North Korea. Soldier A nodded, indicating his desire to return.

Meanwhile, Soldier B asked, "Are Ukrainian people good people?" and said, "I want to live here (in Ukraine)." He also added, "If they tell me to go [back to North Korea], I guess I'll go..."
Regarding these statements, Kang emphasized that "Rather than taking their words at face value, we must consider their situation and psychological state," highlighting two points:

First, they are young soldiers who enlisted at 17 and have been cut off from the outside world during their military service. Second, they were sent without knowing they were going to a battlefield, experienced their first combat, and witnessed the deaths of their comrades. Their responses come from a highly confused mental state where they can't even tell if their interrogators are friends or foes.