Kyiv: Ukrainian President Zelensky has offered to release North Korean soldiers in exchange for Ukrainian captives held by Russia.
Zelensky suggested this deal in a post on Facebook , accompanied by a video of two captured North Korean soldiers.
Ukraine captured the North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region, marking a significant first.
Neither Russia nor North Korea has officially confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russian territories.
Video of Captured Soldiers Released
The video shows two injured North Korean soldiers, seemingly under duress, answering questions.
One soldier has jaw wounds; the other has bandaged hands, indicating recent injuries.
The soldiers claim they were told they were on training exercises, not engaged in active warfare.
When asked about returning to North Korea, one soldier nodded, while the other expressed uncertainty.
Presence of North Korean Troops
Western sources estimate 11,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Kursk.
These forces are believed to be assisting Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Over 3,000 North Korean troops have been reported killed or wounded in Kursk by Ukraine.
The United States has also reported “several hundred” North Korean casualties in the region since October.
Ukraine’s Proposal to Kim Jong Un
Zelensky stated that Ukraine is ready to return the soldiers if Kim Jong Un facilitates the prisoner exchange.
One captured soldier expressed a preference to stay in Ukraine, Zelensky claimed during his Sunday address.
This development highlights growing complications in Russia’s partnerships during the conflict.
Ukraine continues to push for international recognition of Russia’s reliance on external military support.
