Zelensky Proposes Exchange of North Korean Soldiers Amidst Growing Tensions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made an offer to hand over two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia. The proposal, shared on the social media platform X, indicates that those North Korean soldiers who are not willing to return to their home country may be given the chance to aid in spreading the truth about the ongoing war, especially to the Korean-speaking world.

The two soldiers, who were captured by Ukrainian forces on January 9, are currently in Kyiv receiving medical treatment. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), one of the soldiers explained that he had been told he was going to Russia for “training,” not combat, and was found with a Russian military ID card issued in the name of another individual. The other soldier had no documentation. Both men only speak Korean, and their questioning is being conducted with assistance from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.

The SBU’s findings also revealed that the soldier with the Russian military ID claimed to have been issued the card in the autumn of 2024, and mentioned that North Korean combat units had undergone training for one week at the time. Zelensky’s office has noted the Russian efforts to conceal the soldiers’ North Korean identity by issuing them false identification, such as the military ID card that listed their birthplace as Turan, a region in Russia’s Tuva republic, near Mongolia.

Zelensky’s offer to exchange the North Korean soldiers comes amid growing concerns regarding the involvement of North Korean troops in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously acknowledged that it was within Russia’s sovereign rights to deploy North Korean soldiers in the war. Zelensky’s government has used the opportunity to call attention to what it sees as Russian efforts to cover up their collaboration with North Korea, with Zelensky noting that the documents were intended to mislead by falsely portraying the soldiers as from Russia’s Tuva region.

This exchange offer is a part of Ukraine’s continued diplomatic efforts to gain the release of its own captured soldiers. Zelensky emphasized the potential for these North Korean soldiers to contribute to peace by spreading awareness about the war, signaling Ukraine’s broader goals of internationalizing the truth of the conflict. As the situation develops, the world watches closely for any response from Pyongyang regarding the soldiers’ potential return or the exchange for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia.

The second North Korean soldier, who was captured by Ukrainian forces, reportedly provided some of his responses in writing due to an injured jaw, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU believes the soldier was born in 1999 and had been serving as a scout sniper for North Korea since 2016.

In accordance with the Geneva Convention, it is stated that prisoners of war must be questioned in a language they understand, and they should be protected from undue public scrutiny. However, as of now, international media organizations, including the BBC, have not independently verified Ukraine’s account of the prisoners and the circumstances of their capture.

Reports from Ukraine and South Korea last year suggested that North Korea had sent at least 10,000 troops to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. On Monday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service revealed that more than 300 North Korean soldiers have died while fighting alongside Russian forces, with at least 2,700 reported injuries. These figures highlight the significant losses North Korean troops have suffered during the conflict.

In a troubling development, South Korea’s intelligence agency also confirmed that a North Korean soldier, believed to be the first captured while aiding Russia’s war effort, had died after being taken alive by Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky further emphasized the growing dependence of the Russian military on support from North Korea, stating that “there should be no doubt left that the Russian army is dependent on military assistance from North Korea.” This statement underscores the growing role that North Korean forces are playing in Russia’s military operations, adding a new layer of complexity to the conflict in Ukraine.

Courtesy: AFP News Agency

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