Zelensky ‘ready’ to exchange North Korean soldiers for Ukrainians held in Russia
Around 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed fighting against Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker says
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Kyiv was ready to hand over captured North Korean soldiers to their leader Kim Jong-un if he can facilitate their exchange for Ukrainians held captive in Russia.
“In addition to the first captured soldiers from North Korea, there will undoubtedly be more. It’s only a matter of time before our troops manage to capture others,” Zelensky said on social media.
Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine had captured two North Koreans in Russia’s Kursk region, marking the first time Ukraine has reported taking North Korean soldiers alive since their involvement in the ongoing war last autumn.
Ukrainian and Western assessments say that some 11,000 troops from Russia’s ally North Korea have been deployed in the Kursk region to support Moscow’s forces. Russia has neither confirmed nor denied their presence.
The Kremlin declined to comment on Monday on Kyiv’s claim it had captured North Korean soldiers fighting with Moscow’s army.
02:02
Ukraine releases video of captured North Korean soldiers, says ready for prisoner swap
Zelensky has said Russian and North Korean forces had suffered heavy losses.
