North Korean soldier’s diary reveals grim role in Ukraine

The last words of a North Korean soldier found after being killed in Ukraine reveals how Russia is using them as cannon fodder.

A diary found on the body of a North Korean soldier killed on the front lines of the Ukraine war reveals the grim way they’re being used as cannon fodder in Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed last week about 4000 North Korean troops had died or been wounded since being sent to support Russian efforts, and two were recently taken as prisoners of war.

Soldiers discovered the diary of a North Korean enemy killed in the Kursk region which detailed how his countrymen were used as “bait” to draw out drones.

“When the bait stands still, the drone will stop and it will be shot down,” the soldier wrote, as translated by The Wall Street Journal.

The diary of a KIA North Korean soldier found in the Kursk region. Picture: Ukraine Special Operations Forces/X

A hand-drawn diagram accompanying the words shows three stick figures standing around a drone, with one drawing the machine’s fire and another aiming to bring it down.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces X account said in a December 26 post that the diary also showed the hermit kingdom had “sent elite troops to support Russia, not ordinary soldiers”.

“The soldier, who Russia tried to cover as a local Tuvan nation with fake IDs, confessed to being deployed as punishment under orders from warmongering Kim Jong-un,” it wrote.

“In his diary, he expressed loyalty to Kim, vowing to sacrifice his life. Ironically, he fulfilled that vow.”

An alleged North Korean soldier detained by Ukrainian authorities at an undisclosed location. Picture: Telegram/V_Zelenskiy_official/AFP

The account shared quotes from the dead soldier, showing his reverence for “Supreme Commander” Kim – who is estimated to have sent 12,000 troops to aid ally Vladimir Putin.

“Defending the homeland is a sacred duty of every citizen and the highest mission,” the soldier wrote in his diary.

“I will join the front lines of this operation and sacrifice my life. I will unconditionally follow the orders of Comrade Supreme Commander.”

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to trade POWs. Picture: Daniel Roland/AFP

Mr Zelensky said on Sunday, local time, he was ready to hand over captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for the return of Ukrainian POWs held in Russia.

His offer came hours after South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed Ukraine’s announcement from the previous day that it had captured two North Korean soldiers.

Kyiv said they had been wounded fighting Ukraine’s troops in the Kursk region, but at the time did not provide any proof of their nationality.

Academic Anton Shekhovtsov wrote on X that the documents found on the captured soldiers suggested they had been given fake IDs ”alleging they were born in the Tuva Republic” – a remote region of Siberia.

Ukrainian soldiers carrying shells in the Donetsk region last month. Picture: 24th Mechanized Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces/AFP

On Sunday, the NIS told AFP it had “confirmed that the Ukrainian military captured two North Korean soldiers on January 9 in the Kursk battlefield in Russia”.

In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said: “Ukraine is ready to hand over Kim Jong-un’s soldiers to him if he can organise their exchange for our warriors who are being held captive in Russia.” There would “undoubtedly be more” North Korean soldiers captured by Kyiv, he added.

“For those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return, there may be other options available,” said Zelensky.

“In particular, those who express a desire to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean will be given that opportunity.”

Kim Jong-un shaking hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Picture: KCNA via KNS/AFP

North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine have been told by Pyongyang to kill themselves rather than be captured alive, a South Korean politician said this week.

“Memos found on deceased soldiers indicate that the North Korean authorities pressured them to commit suicide or self-detonate before capture,” Lee Seong-kweun told reporters, citing information from the NIS.

– with AFP.