Official announcements from Ukrainian or North Korean governments or verified news sources

Zelenskyy Proposes Exchange of North Korean Soldiers Captured in Kursk for Ukrainian POWs to Kim Jong Un

Jan 13, 2025, 02:31 AM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv is prepared to exchange captured North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region, marking the first time Ukraine has announced the capture of North Korean soldiers alive since their involvement in the conflict began last autumn. He expressed readiness to hand over these soldiers to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if he can facilitate the exchange for Ukrainian captives. Zelenskyy also mentioned that additional North Korean soldiers are likely to be captured in the future, given that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in the Kursk region to support Moscow's forces. He noted that both Russian and North Korean forces have suffered heavy losses. The Ukrainian president shared a video showing the interrogation of the two soldiers, one of whom indicated a willingness to stay in Ukraine if given the opportunity, while the other expressed a desire to return to North Korea. One soldier claimed he was told he was on a training exercise, not fighting against Ukraine. Zelenskyy suggested that for those North Korean soldiers unwilling to return home, other options might be available, including opportunities to spread the truth about the war in the Korean language to promote peace. Additionally, memos found on killed North Korean soldiers emphasized self-destruction and suicide before capture.