North Korean POW attempted self-harm to avoid surrender in Ukraine

Ukrainian medical personnel have revealed that a North Korean prisoner of war, captured in Russia’s Kursk region, attempted self-harm to avoid surrender. According to a documentary released by Ukrainian forces, the prisoner sustained severe facial injuries, including a crushed face and a broken jaw, as a result of the attempt.

Ihor Maksymyshyn, an anesthesiologist with the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade, stated that the massive bleeding was caused by self-inflicted trauma. The prisoner, who was part of a group of two North Korean soldiers captured in January, had previously been seen with facial bandages, though the exact cause of the injuries remained unknown until now.

The incident provides further evidence of North Korean military involvement in the conflict. Reports indicate that North Korea has deployed over 16,000 troops to Russia, with a cumulative total of approximately 25,000 personnel through rotational deployments. The captured soldiers have expressed a desire to go to South Korea, while Ukraine faces legal dilemmas regarding the repatriation of prisoners under the Geneva Convention due to potential persecution risks.