SOLDIERS CAPTURED
Lee – talking for South Korea’s intelligence committee in parliament – stated within the coming yr US president-elect Donald Trump, who has beforehand tried to woo North Korean chief Kim Jong Un, “could push for dialogue … as soon as once more”.
He additionally stated Kim could “weigh the potential for a go to to Russia within the first half of this yr” after assembly Russian President Vladimir Putin in late 2023.
In a submit on social media platform X Sunday, Zelenskyy stated: “Ukraine is able to hand over Kim Jong Un’s troopers to him if he can organise their trade for our warriors who’re being held captive in Russia.”
There would “undoubtedly be extra” North Korean troopers captured by Kyiv, he added.
“For these North Korean troopers who don’t want to return, there could also be different choices out there,” stated Zelenskyy.
Ukraine, the USA and South Korea have accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending greater than 10,000 troopers to assist bolster Russian forces.
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has acknowledged that North Koreans have been deployed to struggle in opposition to Ukraine.
The 2 nations have boosted their army cooperation since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
On a go to to Seoul this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Washington believed Russia was increasing area cooperation with North Korea in trade for its troop contribution in preventing Ukraine.
Washington’s high diplomat stated the USA additionally believed Russia “could also be shut” to formally accepting North Korea’s standing as a nuclear energy.
The video posted by Zelenskyy of the interrogation of the 2 North Korean prisoners of battle exhibits one mendacity in a bunk mattress and the opposite sitting up with a bandage round his jaw.
One man might be heard talking to a Ukrainian official by way of an interpreter, saying that he didn’t know he was going to struggle in a battle with Ukraine and that his commanders “instructed him it was simply coaching”.
In translated feedback, one of many males says he desires to return to North Korea.
The opposite says he’ll do what he’s instructed however, if given the possibility, desires to stay in Ukraine.
