Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he is prepared to offer two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia.
Zelensky posted on X, expressing that for North Korean soldiers who choose not to return, there might be alternative options available. He added that those willing to help “bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean will be given that opportunity.”
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that one of the captured soldiers revealed to officials that he had been told he was traveling to Russia for “training,” not to fight. This soldier was found with a Russian military ID card that had been issued in the name of another individual. The second soldier had no identification documents.
The SBU clarified that the two men, who were taken prisoner on January 9, are currently in Kyiv receiving medical treatment. Since they only speak Korean, they are being interrogated with assistance from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.
Russia has not denied the use of North Korean troops in its conflict with Ukraine. In October, President Vladimir Putin stated that it was a “sovereign decision” for Russia to deploy North Korean forces as part of its military efforts.
On Saturday, Zelensky shared photographs of the two prisoners, showing one soldier with bandages on his head and chin, and the other with his hands completely wrapped. He also posted an image of a red Russian military ID card with a place of birth listed as Turan, a region in the Russian republic of Tuva, which borders Mongolia.
According to the SBU, the soldier with the ID card claimed that it had been issued in Russia during the autumn of 2024.
The soldier also mentioned that some of North Korea’s combat units had undergone a one-week training session around that time. The SBU emphasized that the prisoner insisted he was going to Russia for training, not to fight in the war against Ukraine.
Zelensky’s office released a statement on Saturday, asserting that Russia is attempting to conceal the fact that these soldiers are North Korean by issuing them documents identifying them as being from Tuva or other areas under Moscow’s control.
The intelligence service revealed that the soldier carrying the ID card told interrogators he was born in 2005 and had served North Korea as a rifleman since 2021. A photo shared by Zelensky showed one of the prisoners, wearing a sweater and bandages around his hands, looking at the camera.
The second soldier, who reportedly responded in writing due to an injured jaw, is believed to have been born in 1999 and had been serving North Korea as a scout sniper since 2016.
According to the Geneva Conventions, prisoners of war should be questioned in a language they understand and must be protected from public curiosity. The accounts provided by Ukraine regarding the prisoners and their capture have yet to be verified by BBC News or other international media outlets.
Reports from both Ukraine and South Korea indicated late last year that North Korea had sent at least 10,000 troops to Russia to fight in the war. On Monday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service revealed that more than 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed while fighting for Russia, with over 2,700 others injured.
In December, South Korea’s intelligence agency also reported that the first North Korean soldier captured while fighting for Russia had died after being taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces. Zelensky commented on Sunday that there should be “no doubt left” about the Russian military’s dependence on North Korean military support.