Skip Navigation

UA releases interview of DPRK soldier

www.reddit.com /r/UkraineRussiaReport/s/Fp8BVel9Ns

Make your own conclusions, but I think it seems pretty believable that there are DPRK troops in Ukraine. Doesn't seem like it changes the war regardless, but interesting update.

edit: according to a comrade of mine that speaks Korean, they said it's kinda hard to say. The last translation seems a bit off, like the person is overstating that he wants to stay in Ukraine, but it's still overall unverified that they are actually DPRK soldiers.

I'm kinda stumped on this one

23 comments
  • I saw another post about these same guys and this ID was posted with it. Altho i cant find that post this is a screenshot of the ID. Russia includes plenty of asia and shares a border with Korea so Eastern Russians who look korean or asian in general isnt all that surprising if thats what this is. Which unless this ID is fake it appears they are Russian.

    Edit to add context from a comrade on matrix that speaks russian on the ID they translated it and had some thoughts on its validity:

    This is a military ID. It was issued in "Tuva region", which is also listed as the person's place of birth. Their nationality isn't listed. Their level of education is secondary technical school, which they completed in 2017. The rest is too blurry to read properly.

    Also, I'm not even sure if this is a valid ID. It has no photo, no nationality, no issue date, and no "personal code" which is an identification number for the person this ID was issued to.

    • I've been asking some of my comrades that speak Korean what they make of it, but no responses so far. At this point, my response is based if true, and fake if false.

      I also saw the fake Tuvan passports. Pretty conflicted.

      a border with Korea so Eastern Russians who look korean or asian in general isnt all that surprising if thats what this is. Which unless this ID is fake it appears they are Russian.

      edit: They said it's kinda hard to say. The last translation seems a bit off, like the person is overstating that he wants to stay in Ukraine, but it's still overall unverified that they are actually DPRK soldiers.

      • Russia includes plenty of asia and shares a border with Korea so Eastern Russians who look korean or asian in general isnt all that surprising if thats what this is. Which unless this ID is fake it appears they are Russian.

        There's 90000 Korean minority in Russia and some of them do serve in military.

      • Idk they dont look fake to me. That document looks old. The ink from the pen is kinda faded and the pages have age showing on them too. It doesnt look like some newly created document. Which a forgery would be new.

      • I edited my comment with more info from someone who speaks russian and had some input if your interested

    • Last name: Aranzyn

      First name: Antoryn

      Patronym: Ayasovitch

      Date of birth: 1998-10-03

      Nationality: [blank]

      Owner's personal signature: [blank]

      Issued by military comissariat in: Tuva republic, Piy-Khemsky District

      Space for a fotograph: [blank]

      Date: [blank]

      Personal code: [blank]

      Military comissar (rank, signature): Sh. Kuglyar [signature only, rank is missing]

      Place of birth: Tuva republic, Piy-Khemsky District, Turan

      Education: Secondary technical, 2017

      Occupation: Tailor

      Sport distinctions: [blank]

      Marital status: Single

  • Russia has been using DPRK military equipment for over a year now. First Hwasong-11A (Mars Type-11A in English, KN-23 NATO designation) ballistic missile attack was in January last year. DPRK military equipment, including howitzers (in the Koksan M1989 "Juche Cannon"), tactical ballistic missiles (in the Pukguksong-2/Polaris-2/KN-15), and air defence systems (in the Tor-NK) have been spotted in rail transit within Russia since November last year, and spotted in combat positions (presumably in Kursk) in the last few days.

    I don't think it's a stretch to say that North Korean troops are in Kursk, I'd say that it's likely at this point. Are Russians operating all of this equipment on their own? I'd find that unlikely given that the equipment (aside from the KN-23 missiles) was first spotted in November - December of last year. You don't need any POW videos or Ukrainian gore videos of Korean or East Asian looking dead troops to come to the conclusion that there are DPRK troops in Kursk. There's enough evidence otherwise. The response to the ridiculous Ukrainian propaganda about how North Korean hordes are overrunning Ukraine and dying in their thousands should not be to deny the situation completely, it should be to try uncover the truth of the situation.

    Obviously this POW interview does not hold any value, they never do for any side in any war as there is always influence by the interrogators, torture, incentives, etc. The only interesting thing here is that the POW appears to be speaking Korean in an unique accent. I don't see how that would be possible if the POW was Russian.

    • The response to the ridiculous Ukrainian propaganda about how North Korean hordes are overrunning Ukraine and dying in their thousands should not be to deny the situation completely, it should be to try uncover the truth of the situation.

      This is a weird dichotomy to make up. Makes it sound like denial of a shoddy narrative coming out of the mouths of pathological liars is somehow uninterested in the truth. We don't need to give them credit for maybe being kind of accurate via vague inferences and speculation. There needs to be actual evidence, not "I find this likely or unlikely".

      Are Russians operating all of this equipment on their own?

      What makes you think people are incapable of operating equipment they got from another source, without the source people there? It's one of the primary things that happens on a daily basis in the capitalist world. And even if there were a contingent there to teach them how to operate certain equipment, that would not inherently be the same thing as having an active troop presence who is meant to be taking part in combat. That'd essentially just be a knowledge exchange thing between allies.

  • This is a surprising development assuming that the video is legitimate. What's the motive? I'm under the impression that Russia has enough reservists to continue the war for much longer than Ukraine can, hence them turning it into a war of attrition. Is the incentive for DPRK's military to receive combat experience in preparation for the increasing inevitability of conflict with the USA occupied South?

    • It may be a Russian who happens to be asian i saw another post where they showed the ID.

      Edit: see my comment for more context

      • Thanks. I figured there was a pretty good chance this would be the case. Not that there wouldn't be precedent. USA drags its vassals into pretty much every war they start.

    • This is a surprising development assuming that the video is legitimate.

      No surprise about two countries with a military alliance fighting toghether. If it is true.

      Is the incentive for DPRK’s military to receive combat experience in preparation for the increasing inevitability of conflict with the USA occupied South?

      I would imagine something like that would be part of it. Specially considering the recent attempt of the US trying to use their puppet to start a war with them.

    • Definitely battlefield experience and battle testing their weapons. No one wants to end up in a war and find out that their guns don't work, their missiles are inaccurate and their air defence can't intercept anything. It's the same reason Iran is sending their new domestically made anti ballistic missile defence systems to Russia for use in the war. They want to test them in real combat, and improve on any flaws.

      A lot of the escalation between the DPRK and ROK was because of the now impeached ROK president and the Biden administration exempting the ROK from certain arms treaties, so the situation should calm down for now. But it will heat up again, maybe very soon. So it's always best to be prepared.

23 comments