North Koreans 'blow themselves up with grenades rather than risk capture', say Ukraine soldiers
North Koreans 'blow themselves up with grenades rather than risk capture', say Ukraine soldiers
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North Korean troops appear to have temporarily pulled back from the frontline in Russia after suffering heavy losses, a Ukrainian special forces commander has told Sky News. The commander, who goes by the codename "Puls", said Kim Jong Un's men were likely either learning lessons from mistakes made during their first, bloody clashes with Ukrainian soldiers, tending to their wounded or waiting for reinforcements.
"I think they'll be back soon," he said, speaking at a secret base in northeastern Ukraine. Interviews with several Ukrainian troops reveal remarkable details about how the North Koreans have been fighting since they arrived on the battlefield in the Russian region of Kursk last month. This includes:.
• An apparent initial lack of awareness about the threats from drones and artillery, with North Korean soldiers attacking on foot "like something out of World War Two" in groups of 20, 40 or even 60 men, making themselves easy targets. • "Brainwashing" which means they keep pushing forward despite being under Ukrainian fire and with comrades being killed and wounded around them.
• A desire to remove evidence of their presence from the warzone, with North Koreans in white helmets spotted trying to recover the wounded and the dead. Volodymyr Zelenskyy offers captured North Korean soldiers for Ukrainians held by Russia. Ukraine says it has captured two North Korean soldiers on the battlefield in Russia.
US charges North Koreans in £70m identity theft case. • A refusal to be taken alive, with claims that North Koreans have been seen blowing themselves up with grenades rather than risk capture. Puls even claimed a North Korean has been heard shouting "For General Kim Jong Un" before killing himself.
