Zelensky offers exchange of North Korean soldiers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated his willingness to transfer two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia. Zelenskyy mentioned on social media platform X that there might be other options for those soldiers who do not wish to return to North Korea. He added that those who want to "promote peace by spreading the truth about this war in North Korea" will be given such an opportunity.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that one of the soldiers told officials he thought he was going to Russia for "training," not to fight. He was found to be carrying a Russian military ID card issued under another person's name. The other soldier had no identification documents. According to the SBU, the two soldiers, captured on January 9th, are currently receiving treatment in Kyiv.

The two soldiers speak only Korean and are currently being interrogated with the assistance of the South Korean National Intelligence Service. Russia has not denied using North Korean soldiers in its war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in October that whether to deploy such troops is his country's "sovereign decision." Zelenskyy released photos of the two captured soldiers on Saturday, one with his head and chin bandaged, and the other with both hands bandaged. Zelenskyy also shared a photo of a red Russian military ID card, which showed the place of birth as Turan in the Republic of Tuva, Russia, which borders Mongolia.

The SBU stated that the soldier holding the ID card said during interrogation that he obtained the document in Russia in the fall of 2024. According to the SBU, he also stated that some North Korean combat units received a week of training at that time. "It is noteworthy that this prisoner... emphasized that he was allegedly going for training, not to fight against Ukraine," the SBU statement said. Zelenskyy's office said in a statement on Saturday that the Russians "tried to cover up the fact that they are North Korean soldiers by providing them with documents that they claim are from Tuva or other Moscow-controlled areas."

Intelligence reports say that the soldier holding the ID card claimed to have been born in 2005 and has been a rifleman in North Korea since 2021. According to the SBU, the second captured soldier provided some of his answers in writing because of a jaw injury. The SBU believes he was born in 1999 and has been a reconnaissance sniper in North Korea since 2016. The Geneva Conventions stipulate that the interrogation of prisoners should be conducted in a language they understand, and that prisoners must be protected from public curiosity. BBC News and other international media have not yet verified Ukraine's claims regarding the prisoners and their capture.

Ukraine and South Korea reported late last year that North Korea had sent at least 10,000 soldiers to Russia. The South Korean National Intelligence Service said on Monday that more than 300 North Korean soldiers had died while fighting for Russia, and at least 2,700 were injured. In December, South Korean intelligence agencies reported that a North Korean soldier, believed to be the first captured while supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, died after being taken alive by Ukrainian forces. Zelenskyy said on Sunday that "there is no doubt that the Russian army relies on military assistance from North Korea."