Zelensky Posts Footage Alleging Russian Soldier Burns North Korean Combatant's Body
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Seoul, Dec 17 (NationPress) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has published a video that he asserts depicts a Russian soldier igniting the remains of a North Korean soldier who was killed in combat against Ukraine. He contended that this act was meant to obscure the involvement of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia.
Zelensky made this assertion in a video posted on social media on Tuesday, which included footage showing what seemed to be a partially charred corpse, accompanied by the English subtitle "Russians attempt to hide the identities of North Korean soldiers even in death."
The 30-second clip also featured a close-up of an individual believed to be a North Korean soldier, alongside footage of a soldier with Asian features who was seen shaking his head and saying 'No, no' to the camera, while another person in the background remarked, "Instruct him to wear a mask. Put the mask on."
Zelensky condemned the Russian military for utilizing North Korean troops and trying to obscure their presence, asserting that Moscow should face consequences for such a "display of disrespect."
"Russia not only sends North Korean soldiers to assault Ukrainian positions but also attempts to hide the fatalities of these individuals," he stated.
"And now, following initial clashes with our forces, the Russians are attempting… to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers who died in battle."
The video's release comes amid rising concerns regarding the deepening military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, coupled with reports that the deployed North Korean troops may be treated as 'cannon fodder' in the ongoing conflict, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
On Saturday, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence indicated that approximately 200 soldiers from both Russia and North Korea were estimated to have perished while fighting in joint units against Ukrainian forces, although it did not specify the casualties on each side.
A White House official stated on Monday that the United States believes North Korea has experienced 'significant' troop losses, marking the first occasion that Washington has publicly acknowledged North Korean casualties during the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.
