Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed handing over two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Russia. The offer comes after Ukraine announced the capture of two wounded North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has confirmed that the two soldiers were indeed captured by Ukrainian forces on January 9th in the Kursk region. Zelensky stated that Ukraine is willing to release Kim Jong Un’s soldiers if he can facilitate their exchange for Ukrainian POWs being held captive in Russia.
The Ukrainian president also hinted that other options might be available for North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return. In a video message, one of the captured soldiers expressed regret over being forced to fight in Ukraine without knowing it was a war. Zelensky’s offer has sparked hopes that more North Korean soldiers may be captured by Ukrainian forces.
The capture of North Korean soldiers is significant, as neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have acknowledged their deployment in Ukraine. The two countries have strengthened military cooperation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Source: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/01/13/zelensky-ready-to-hand-north-korean-pows-to-pyongyang-a87579