A man, who identifies as a South Korean and has been fighting for Ukraine for three years after voluntarily joining the Ukrainian army, has released a video urging North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia to defect.
The video, shared on the Telegram channel of the pro-Ukrainian international civil organization “InformNapalm” on December 3, features an Asian man who speaks fluent Korean with a South Korean accent.
In the 1-minute, 40-second video, the man introduces himself as “a Korean from South Korea” and explains that he has been fighting against Russia in the Ukrainian army for the past three years.
He criticizes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his family, and the wealthy elite for living luxurious lives, while the ordinary people of North Korea suffer from cold and hunger.
The man goes on to say, “You (the North Korean soldiers) are being sacrificed by them. There is no reason for you to live in fear, cold, or hunger.”
He urges the soldiers to “choose the path of liberation for your freedom,” and adds, “You have the freedom and right to build your own life. If you see Ukrainian soldiers, drop your weapons and raise your hands to show your intent to surrender. We will not harm you.”
Furthermore, he promises, “We will offer you food, shelter, money, and jobs. Depending on your wishes, we may even give you the opportunity to seek asylum in another country. Do not become slaves to Kim Jong-un. Choose the path of freedom for yourselves.”
The man, who stares directly at the camera, is wearing an olive-colored hat and a mask that partially covers his face, and his jacket bears no identifiable insignia.
Local media outlet KyivPost reports that the man was speaking in front of a military vehicle, a Humvee (HMMWV), which was equipped with a turret operated by the Ukrainian army.
However, details such as the man’s name or further personal information were not disclosed, so it remains unclear whether the man is indeed a “South Korean mercenary” actively fighting on the front lines of Ukraine.
The video includes Ukrainian subtitles, but InfomNapalm clarified that the subtitles were provided by the military unit featured in the video and noted that the translation was inaccurate, attaching their own Ukrainian-language version.
In March of this year, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 15 South Koreans had participated in combat on Ukraine’s side over the past two years, with five of them killed. However, the South Korean authorities have not confirmed this or disclosed the number of South Korean mercenaries involved.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
