Zelenskyy Open to Trading North Korean Troops for Ukrainian POWs in Russia"
Zelenskyy Open to Trading North Korean Troops for Ukrainian POWs in Russia”
Kyiv: On Sunday (Jan 12), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that Kyiv is prepared to return North Korean soldiers to their leader, Kim Jong Un if he can facilitate an exchange for Ukrainians held captive in Russia. “Along with the initial captured soldiers from North Korea, there will certainly be additional ones. It’s just a matter of time before our forces manage to capture more,” Zelenskyy mentioned on the social media platform X.
He revealed on Saturday that Ukraine had taken two North Korean soldiers prisoner in Russia’s Kursk region, marking the first instance where Ukraine announced the capture of North Korean soldiers alive since their involvement in the war began last autumn. Assessments from both Ukrainian and Western sources indicate that approximately 11,000 troops from North Korea, an ally of Russia, have been deployed in the Kursk region to assist Moscow’s forces. Russia has not confirmed or denied its soldiers’ presence.
Zelenskyy noted that both Russian and North Korean troops have faced significant losses. “Ukraine is poised to hand over Kim Jong Un’s soldiers if he can arrange their exchange for our warriors currently held in Russia,” he stated. He added that for North Korean soldiers who opt not to return, there may be alternative options available, and “those who wish to contribute to peace by disseminating the truth about this war in the Korean language will be afforded that opportunity.”
Source: Reuters
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