Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that his nation is willing to exchange two North Korean soldiers, allegedly captured while fighting alongside Russian forces, for Ukrainian soldiers 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,” he stated. “There should be no doubt left in the world that the Russian army is dependent on military assistance from North Korea.”
Zelenskyy shared a video showing two North Korean soldiers being interrogated with the help of an interpreter. Both appeared wounded, with one having his head wrapped in bandages over his jaw.
One of the soldiers claimed he was unaware of being deployed for the war in Ukraine as his commanders told him that he was sent to Russia for training purposes.
When asked if he wanted to return to North Korea, the soldier said he would prefer to stay in Ukraine if possible but added that he would do as he was told, according to the translation. The second soldier expressed a desire to return to his homeland.
Both men were captured in the Kursk region.
Zelenskyy said “there may be other options available” for North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return home, especially for those “who express a desire to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean.”
The NIS observed that North Korean soldiers appeared to lack an understanding of modern warfare, putting them at a disadvantage in the war. The agency also alleged that North Korean soldiers were ordered to take their own lives to avoid being captured by Ukrainian forces.
The agency said it would consult with Ukraine if the captured soldiers express a desire to defect to South Korea, as the country’s constitution considers North Koreans as South Korean citizens.
