Zelenskyy offers captured North Korean soldiers for Ukrainians held by Russia
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Ukraine's president is offering a prisoner swap with North Korean soldiers it has captured, in exchange for Ukrainians held by Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a direct appeal to leader Kim Jong Un after seizing two North Koreans in Russia's Kursk region.
"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 said in a video posted on X. His video also included an offer of help to officials in California fighting the ongoing fires there.
It is the first time Ukraine has announced the capture of North Korean soldiers since their entry into the nearly three-year-old war last autumn. Ukrainian and Western assessments say that some 11,000 troops from Russia's ally North Korea have been deployed in the Kursk region to support Moscow's forces, although Russia has neither confirmed nor denied their presence.
Mr Zelenskyy has said Russian and North Korean forces had suffered heavy losses. Ukraine says it has captured two North Korean soldiers on the battlefield in Russia. US charges North Koreans in £70m identity theft case. South Korea latest: President faces impeachment - as martial law chaos a 'wake-up call for West'.
"Ukraine is ready to hand over Kim Jong Un's soldiers to him if he can organise their exchange for our warriors who are being held captive in Russia," Mr Zelenskyy added. He posted a short video showing the interrogation of two men, presented as North Korean soldiers.
