SOLDIERS CAPTURED
Lee – talking for South Korea’s intelligence committee in parliament – mentioned 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 mentioned Kim could “weigh the potential of a go to to Russia within the first half of this yr” after assembly Russian President Vladimir Putin in late 2023.
In a put up on social media platform X Sunday, Zelenskyy mentioned: “Ukraine is able to hand over Kim Jong Un’s troopers to him if he can organise their change 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 obtainable,” mentioned Zelenskyy.
Ukraine, the US 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 battle towards Ukraine.
The 2 nations have boosted their navy cooperation since Russia launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
On a go to to Seoul this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned Washington believed Russia was increasing area cooperation with North Korea in change for its troop contribution in combating Ukraine.
Washington’s prime diplomat mentioned the US 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 struggle exhibits one mendacity in a bunk mattress and the opposite sitting up with a bandage round his jaw.
One man might be heard chatting with a Ukrainian official by an interpreter, saying that he didn’t know he was going to battle in a struggle with Ukraine and that his commanders “informed him it was simply coaching”.
In translated feedback, one of many males says he needs to return to North Korea.
The opposite says he’ll do what he’s informed however, if given the prospect, needs to dwell in Ukraine.
