Zelensky ‘prepared’ at hand North Korean POWs to Pyongyang

This undated handout {photograph} launched by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on January 11, 2025 reveals an alleged soldier offered as North Korean laying in a cell at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Agence France-Presse

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned Sunday he was prepared at hand over captured North Korean troopers to Pyongyang in alternate for the return of Ukrainian POWs held in Russia.

Zelensky’s provide got here hours after South Korea’s Nationwide Intelligence Service confirmed Ukraine’s announcement from the day prior to this that it had captured two North Korean troopers.

Kyiv mentioned Saturday that they had been wounded combating Ukraine’s troops in Russia’s Kursk area, however on the time didn’t present any proof of their nationality.

READ: Seoul confirms Ukraine captured 2 North Korean troopers

However on Sunday, the NIS informed AFP it had “confirmed that the Ukrainian army captured two North Korean troopers on January 9 within the Kursk battlefield in Russia”.

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In a publish on X Sunday, Zelensky mentioned: “Ukraine is able to hand over Kim Jong Un’s troopers to him if he can arrange their alternate for our warriors who’re being held captive in Russia.”

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There would “undoubtedly be extra” North Korean troopers captured by Kyiv, he added.

“For these North Korean troopers who don’t want to return, there could also be different choices accessible,” mentioned Zelensky.

READ: A number of wounded N. Korean troopers die after being captured by Ukraine

“Particularly, those that specific a need to convey peace nearer by spreading the reality about this warfare in Korean might be given that chance.”

Russia-N. Korea ties

Ukraine, the US and South Korea have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending greater than 10,000 troopers to assist bolster Russian forces.

Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has acknowledged that North Koreans have been deployed to struggle in opposition to Ukraine.

The 2 nations have boosted their army cooperation since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“There ought to be little doubt left on the planet that the Russian military relies on army help from North Korea,” mentioned Zelensky.

The Ukrainian president posted a video of an interrogation of the 2 North Korean prisoners of warfare, considered one of whom is mendacity in a bunk mattress and the opposite is sitting up in mattress with a bandage round his jaw.

One man may be heard talking to a Ukrainian official by way of an interpreter, saying in translated feedback that he didn’t know he was going to struggle in a warfare with Ukraine and that his commanders “informed him it was simply coaching”.

In translated feedback, one of many males says he needs to return to North Korea. The opposite says he’ll do what he’s informed however, if given the prospect, needs to dwell in Ukraine.

‘Important losses’

South Korea’s affirmation Sunday added weight to Kyiv’s account, confirming particulars launched by Ukraine the day prior to this.

The NIS mentioned one of many captured troopers had revealed that he acquired army coaching from Russian forces after arriving there in November.

“He initially believed he was being despatched for coaching, realizing upon arrival in Russia that he had been deployed,” the NIS mentioned.

The soldier additionally mentioned North Korean forces had skilled “important losses throughout battle”.

The NIS mentioned it might proceed to work with the SBU to share info on North Korean fighters in Ukraine.

Neither Russia nor North Korea has reacted to the intelligence accounts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned final month that almost 3,000 North Korean troopers had been “killed or wounded” combating for Russia. Seoul put the determine at 1,000.

The NIS informed the nation’s lawmakers final month that “a number of North Korean casualties” had already been attributed to Ukrainian missile and drone assaults in addition to coaching accidents, with the very best rating “a minimum of on the stage of a common”.

Resulting from losses amongst its forces, North Korea is getting ready for extra deployment to Ukraine, in line with Seoul’s army.

Russia on Sunday claimed the seize of two villages in japanese Ukraine the place its forces have been advancing for months.

The defence ministry mentioned forces had captured the village of Yantarne within the japanese Donetsk area, round 10 kilometres (six miles) southwest of Kurakhove, a key logistics hub that Moscow claimed to have seized final week.

Russian troops additionally captured the village of Kalinove within the northeastern Kharkiv area, mentioned the ministry.