Families of North Korean Troops Face Execution Threats if Soldiers Captured

Former North Korean soldiers have revealed that troops fighting in Ukraine are under the dire threat of family execution if they are captured. Defector Ryu Seong-hyeon stated that many soldiers would rather take their own lives than face capture, viewing it as a profound shame. South Korean intelligence estimates that over 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia, with around 300 reported killed and over 2,700 wounded. Recent footage from Ukrainian forces showed two captured North Korean soldiers who expressed a desire to remain in Ukraine, indicating a possible disillusionment with their situation. Experts suggest that the high casualty rates among these troops are largely due to their lack of modern warfare training and equipment. The situation highlights the brutal conditions under which North Korean soldiers are forced to fight alongside Russian forces in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.