Kyiv open to talks with South Korea on captured North Korean troopers, ambassador says

Kyiv is open to negotiating with South Korea over the potential switch of captured North Korean troopers, Ukrainian Ambassador to Seoul Dmytro Ponomarenko mentioned in an interview with The Korea Instances printed on Feb. 5.

Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean troopers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast in January, marking what President Volodymyr Zelensky known as “irrefutable proof” of Pyongyang’s involvement in Moscow’s full-scale invasion. It stays unclear whether or not Ukraine has captured further North Korean troopers.

Zelensky mentioned on Feb. 6 that the North Korean prisoners of battle (POWs) have been injured in fight and are at the moment receiving medical therapy.

Whereas Ukraine and South Korea have but to start formal talks, Kyiv is able to talk about the potential switch of the troopers to 3rd international locations, Ponomarenko mentioned.

"Given the risk to the life and freedom of North Korean servicemen within the occasion of their repatriation to the Democratic Individuals's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and in the event that they refuse to return, we’re open for a dialogue with worldwide companions," the ambassador mentioned.

If the captured troopers select to return dwelling, Ukraine shall be required to repatriate them underneath the Geneva Conventions.

Ponomarenko known as the opportunity of negotiations between Kyiv and Pyongyang over the captured North Korean troopers “a really delicate concern” and declined to remark additional.

As of early February, about 8,000 North Korean troopers are nonetheless combating in opposition to Ukraine in Kursk Oblast, Ukraine's spy chief Kyrylo Budanov mentioned.

As much as 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed within the Russian area final fall to help Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion launched six months in the past, on Aug. 6 on 2024.

At the least 300 North Korean troopers have been killed and one other 2,700 wounded combating in Russia's Kursk Oblast, South Korea's Nationwide Intelligence Service (NIS) claimed in mid-January.

‘He wanted to live’ — How Ukraine captured a North Korean POW, told by the soldiers who took partEditor’s note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only. It was a month-long mission with one primary goal — capturing a North Korean soldier alive. One of the biggest obstacles facing the…The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko