Alleged North Korean Soldier in Kursk Speaks Out: 'We are being used as bait'

kursk, russia - A North Korean soldier in Kursk, who is recovering in a hospital bed, has spoken out about the situation in the border region occupied by Ukraine.

A North Korean soldier, lying in a hospital bed with bandages around his head, has spoken out about being used as bait in the border region of Kursk, reportedly for the first time since North Korean troops arrived in Russia. The soldier's account was shared in a video by Telegram channel ExileNova. The Seoul Newspaper provided a translation, noting the man had a distinct North Korean accent. The translation revealed discrepancies with the original video's subtitles, which had gone through multiple translations and may not accurately reflect the original statements.

The soldier's story begins with a false promise from the Russian army, claiming that the 8000-12,000 North Koreans in Kursk would not have to fight on the front lines. However, the soldier revealed that they were forced into combat without proper reconnaissance or adequate weapons. When the Ukrainians launched their attack, only the soldier speaking remained from a unit of 40 North Korean soldiers. He described a harrowing experience of survival among fallen comrades, expressing disillusionment with being sacrificed as bait.

According to the soldier, the Ukrainians possessed advanced weapons and a strong determination, contrasting with the alleged lack of support and losses among Russian forces. He painted a grim picture of Koersk as a 'hell on earth' and predicted Putin's ultimate defeat in the war.

The veracity of the soldier's account remains uncertain, although Jonas Oman from the Lithuanian non-profit organization Blue-Yellow corroborated an interaction between their supported Ukrainian unit and North Korean soldiers on October 25, where all North Koreans were reportedly killed except for one survivor. Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Boedanov indicated that the first North Korean troops had arrived in Russia on October 23.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied any combat with North Koreans and casualties on October 31, suggesting that North Koreans were still preparing in Kursk but expected to engage soon. Footage circulating online purportedly captures initial clashes with North Korean forces.

Despite Kim Jong-un's near-total control, little information has emerged about the soldiers under his de facto alliance with Putin. An intriguing aspect is their newfound access to the internet outside North Korea, allegedly leading to extensive viewing of pornography according to the Financial Times.