North Korean prisoners thought they were fighting in Kursk against South Korean troops.

Ukrainian defenders are holding servicemen from North Korea captive in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. The captives are Ri and Bek. They believed they were fighting against soldiers from South Korea. A compression bandage has already been removed from one of the captive's jaws. Ri spoke about his origins and expressed concern for his parents, who might undergo evacuation if North Korea learns about his captivity. Ri is also determined to seek asylum in South Korea. Ukrainian fighters detained two servicemen from North Korea who participated in combat actions in Kursk. It turned out that North Korea provided long-range artillery to Russia and intends to continue supporting the war against Ukraine. About 4 thousand North Korean soldiers have died in Kursk. Additionally, North Korea and Russia have a number of joint projects, including in the field of military cooperation.