“Two North Korean prisoners of war, captured by Ukrainian forces last month, have spoken exclusively to The Chosun Ilbo at a prisoner of war (POW) camp in Ukraine. This marks the first time North Korean soldiers deployed to fight in Russia have been interviewed by the media. Mr. Ri (26), a reconnaissance sniper, and Mr. Baek (21), a rifleman, each served in the North Korean military for 10 and four years before they were deployed to Kursk, Russia, in October and November last year.”
“I Miss My Parents So Much,” Says Captured North Korean Soldier to The Chosun Daily in an Exclusive In-Person Interview
By SWJ Staff for Small Wars Journal
Read this heart-wrenching article originally reported by The Chosun Daily.
The article linked above has an accurate transcript of this raw interview. We suggest reading along with the video since the youtube translation is not 100% accurate.
Video Description from The Chosun Daily (video below):
※The editor-in-chief did not reveal the real names of the prisoners of war sent to Russia and did not reveal any information that could be identified in detail during the interview. This is a measure to protect the human rights of prisoners of war in accordance with the international law on prisoners of war. However, the photos and videos have already been disclosed by the Ukrainian government several times and have spread worldwide for more than a month, so we decided to use photos and videos without mosaics after an editorial meeting.
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We recently met with two North Korean prisoners of war sent to Russia by the Ukrainian military captured alive on the 9th of last month at a concentration camp in Ukraine. It is the world’s first media interview of a North Korean prisoner dispatched to Russia. Limo (26), a reconnaissance and sniper who served in the North Korean military for 10 years and 4 years, and Baek (21), a rifleman, were staying in solitary confinement deep in the detention facility, respectively. Both North Korean troops were known to be members of the Storm Corps, but both said in interviews that they were soldiers belonging to the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
In an interview, Lee and Bae revealed for the first time that the prisoners are growing hostility by lying that North Korean security agents are monitoring and controlling the North Korean military in Kursk and that “South Korean troops sent to Ukraine are attacking the North Korean military with drones.” Lee said, “(The people of the Security Department) said that all the Ukrainian military drone pilots are South Korean soldiers.”
Both of them are only sons. “I came here on October 10 last year after hearing that I was going to study abroad for training,” said Lee, who is from Pyongyang. “My father died in the year I joined the army, leaving only my single mother (50) as a result of my death,” Baek said. The two, who are still in their early and mid-20s, said that their dream was to go to college and study when they are discharged from the army. “I want to go to Korea,” Lee said.
Interviews with North Korean prisoners of war took place after a complicated process of consultation. Holding hands of the two young men showed that they were in their 20s as tough and thick as they could not believe they were in their 20s. The two men hugged after saying goodbye to them, “Let’s meet again in good health.” The interviews of the two men are carried twice. The first episode was about a sniper, Lee. /Kiiu (Ukraine) = Reporter Chung Chul-hwan
Some key quotes from this interview:
You mentioned a ‘demonic drone’ earlier, like a ghost. You were referring to reconnaissance drones. What other drones were there?
- “Suicide drones. We underestimated unmanned aircraft. Drones were the most… devastating. So many were lost because of them.”
Were there security officers from the Ministry of State Security embedded in your unit?
- “Each battalion (about 500 soldiers) had one or two.”
Did they strictly enforce ideological and disciplinary control?
- “They monitored both our duties and our ideology. Before the battle, one of them told me that all the drone operators in Ukraine’s military were South Korean soldiers.”
Did everyone believe that during combat?
- “(Nods.)”
What did you originally want to do in life? Feel free to share.
- “I wanted to study and go to university after my discharge. My father’s side of the family is full of scientists. I wanted to study, but… my family struggled a lot. We were in such poor conditions, always in financial hardship, constantly suffering. And after joining the military, I endured both physical and mental trauma—so many terrible experiences, facing all sorts of extreme situations. I’ve come so close to death so many times… And now, having barely survived, I’m a prisoner. (Sighs) I just want to live up to my parents’ expectations and fulfill my dream. I want to see it blossom. (Sighs) I’m still young.”
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The fact that they were alive, had obviously had their injuries treated, were able to be interviewed, and being returned to Russia shows the dramatic difference between North Korea/Russia and Ukraine. North Korea tells its soldiers that they will kill their families if they are captured so many commit suicide. No doubt they are given that message to avoid what would happen if they would really see the difference. Many would see through the lies of their probably seek to go to other countries, possibly South Korea. On the other hand, videos of the horrific treatment of Ukrainian prisoners are truly shameful. Have you covered that?