North Korean POW Transfer
Ukraine Transfers Captured North Korean Prisoners of War to South Korea
Anonymous
Key Points
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Zelenskyy said Russia is using citizens from 47 countries in its war and urged those governments to prevent their nationals from being drawn into another front.
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Bloomberg reported that as many as 25,000 North Korean citizens may be working at Russian drone-manufacturing facilities, including in Alabuga, where North Korean authorities reportedly present them as students to circumvent international sanctions.
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The two soldiers were captured wounded on Jan. 11, 2025, by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces and airborne troops, then transported to Kyiv for medical treatment and questioning by Ukraine’s Security Service.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he would expand and deepen cooperation with Russia, adding a diplomatic dimension to Pyongyang’s military support for Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Daily Sabah reported that Zelenskyy's disclosure broke a confidentiality agreement, drawing criticism from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. One soldier attempted suicide after realizing capture, Zelenskyy said, highlighting how North Korea conditions troops to fight until death.
Zelenskyy accused North Korean leader Kim Jong Un of deploying troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine and using them as leverage. He warned that the deployment strengthens North Korea's military capabilities while Russia draws fighters from 47 countries into the conflict. The captured soldiers, found wounded in Russia's Kursk region on January 11, had reportedly expressed a desire to defect to South Korea.
North Korean Troops Expanding Russia's War Effort
North Korean soldiers are increasingly integrated into Russia's military operations in Ukraine. Bloomberg reported that as many as 25,000 North Korean citizens may be working at Russian drone-manufacturing facilities, including the Alabuga complex. North Korean authorities reportedly present these workers as students to avoid triggering international sanctions on both countries.
A Soldier's Desperation Reveals Regime Control
One of the two captured North Korean soldiers attempted suicide after realizing he would be taken prisoner, Zelenskyy revealed. The incident underscores the psychological grip North Korea's regime maintains over its military. Zelenskyy argued the soldier's desperation shows how North Korea strips its people of freedom and choice, conditioning them to see death in combat as their only option.
Seoul Criticizes Zelenskyy's Public Disclosure
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung condemned Zelenskyy for breaking confidentiality by publicly announcing the POW transfer, Daily Sabah reported. The two soldiers had been captured wounded by Ukraine's Special Operations Forces and airborne troops on January 11, 2025. They were transported to Kyiv for medical care and questioning by Ukraine's Security Service before being sent to South Korea.
The breach of the confidentiality agreement created diplomatic tension between Ukraine and South Korea. Both countries faced competing interests: Ukraine wanted to publicize North Korea's direct involvement in Russia's war, while South Korea preferred discreet handling of the sensitive transfer.
Moscow and Pyongyang Deepen Military Partnership
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has signaled his commitment to expanding military cooperation with Russia. Kim told Russian President Vladimir Putin he would deepen ties between the two countries, adding a diplomatic layer to Pyongyang's direct military support for Moscow's invasion. The deployment of North Korean troops marks the most visible sign of the alliance's growing military integration.
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