A known name and more. One of the North Korean prisoners of war revealed details about their involvement in the conflict against Ukraine.

The name of one of the North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine and captured in the Kursk region has been revealed. He was born in Pyongyang on December 30, 1999, and is identified as Lee Chen Nam.

This information was reported by military analyst Roman Bochkala. He specified that the North Korean citizen was captured by paratroopers from the 95th Airborne Brigade near the locality of Orlovskoe in the Kursk region. Lee Chen Nam is a sniper-reconnaissance member of the 2nd group, 3rd platoon, 3rd company, 5th battalion of the KPA GRU, and holds the rank of sergeant. He has been in the North Korean army since 2016.

According to him, his first combat encounter occurred on January 8, involving two assault groups from the KPA GRU, each consisting of 7 soldiers. All personnel except for the captive, as per his account, were killed.

Lee Chen Nam shared that North Korean soldiers are transported to Russia by sea. In the combat zone, the Koreans live in bunkers with seven individuals per group. Communication is maintained through one radio station shared by two soldiers. Within the KPA, there are assault units – the 91st and 94th Special Purpose Brigades of the KPA. The captive stated that losses among the KPA units are continuously replenished. He estimated the number of KPA soldiers operating on the side of the Russian GRU to be around 2,500.

The KPA soldiers are armed with AK-12 rifles, which they received on Russian territory. They also possess 60 mm mortars that were delivered from North Korea.

Regarding the morale and psychological state of the KPA troops fighting against Ukraine, the captive noted that the KPA soldiers maintain high fighting spirit and a desire to engage in combat. None of them have refused to carry out combat orders. Significant losses among KPA personnel do not affect their morale, stated Lee Chen Nam.

Command of the KPA:

• Commander of the 5th battalion – Lieutenant Colonel Kim Mun Gi;
• Commander of the 3rd company of the 5th battalion – Captain Shim O Song (deceased);
• Commander of the 2nd group of the 3rd platoon of the 3rd company of the 5th battalion – Lieutenant Bang Ho Sop.

As reported by "Telegraph," one of the captured North Korean soldiers stated that there are "significant" losses among North Korean soldiers in Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine has offered the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to take back his captured soldiers. In exchange, he is proposed to facilitate the return of Ukrainian captives currently in Russia.