SOLDIERS CAPTURED
Lee – talking for South Korea’s intelligence committee in parliament – mentioned within the coming 12 months 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 for a go to to Russia within the first half of this 12 months” 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 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 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 combat in opposition to Ukraine.
The 2 international locations 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 mentioned Washington believed Russia was increasing house cooperation with North Korea in trade for its troop contribution in combating Ukraine.
Washington’s high 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 conflict exhibits one mendacity in a bunk mattress and the opposite sitting up with a bandage round his jaw.
One man will be heard talking to a Ukrainian official via an interpreter, saying that he didn’t know he was going to combat in a conflict with Ukraine and that his commanders “informed 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 informed however, if given the prospect, desires to reside in Ukraine.
