North Korean POWs in Ukraine stunned by modern comforts
North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine feel as if they have "stepped out of a time machine," according to experts cited by "The Times". Ukrainian investigators report that North Korean soldiers are amazed not only by the presence of toilets and running water in buildings but may also be unaware that they are entitled to certain rights as prisoners of war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that two North Korean soldiers were taken captive. As noted by "The Times", these are some of the first North Korean prisoners of war captured in combat since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine is ready to hand over these individuals to Kim Jong Un, if he can arrange their exchange for Ukrainian soldiers held in Russia.
Kim Jong Un's soldiers do not know which country they are in and are surprised by warm running water and indoor toilets, as opposed to outdoor ones. Daniel Tudor, co-author of the book "North Korea Confidential," compares it to someone from Victorian England arriving in modern-day England, noting that while the basic aspects of society are similar, the technological differences are enormous. They may be surprised by such basic things as hot water or an indoor toilet, he explains.
There are also video recordings of interrogations where the prisoners admit they do not know where they are. When asked about their desire to return home, one nods and answers "yes," while the other says, "I want to live in Ukraine."
North Korean soldiers were likely unaware of their rights as prisoners of war and may have given answers out of fear of torture or death, believing that any wrong answer would result in severe consequences.
Could the North Korean military contingent soon be destroyed?
President Zelenskyy on X, a few days after the prisoners' arrest, wrote: "Communication between captured North Korean soldiers and Ukrainian investigators continues. We are establishing the facts. We are verifying all the details. The world will learn the full truth about how Russia is exploiting such guys, who grew up in a complete information vacuum, utterly unaware of Ukraine, and who are being used by Russia solely to prolong and escalate this war."
Analysts from the American Institute for the Study of War estimate that at the current rate of losses, the 12,000-strong North Korean military contingent in the Kursk region could be destroyed within the next three months.
