Russia, on Zelensky's Proposal for 'Exchange of Captured North Korean Prisoners of War,' Says "Cannot Comment"

Russia Stresses Importance of Prisoner Exchange Possibility

On the 13th (local time), Russia refused to comment on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine could be exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers detained by Russia.

According to TASS news agency, Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said at a briefing on the 13th (local time) that he "cannot comment in any way" on President Zelensky's proposal, adding, "We do not know what is true there, or who proposed what to whom."

However, regarding the possibility of a prisoner exchange between Russian and Ukrainian forces, he added, "It is not an easy task, but every Russian soldier's life is important to us."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 11th (local time) that the Ukrainian military captured two North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region of western Russia. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 11th, President Zelensky released a video on social media showing two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces. He specifically proposed that the two North Korean soldiers could be released in exchange for Ukrainian soldiers detained by Russia.

In a post written in Korean, he said, "We are prepared to hand over the North Korean soldiers to Kim Jong-un only if he can push for an exchange between Ukrainian war prisoners detained in Russia and North Korean soldiers."

It is estimated that about 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed on the Kursk front in mainland Russia, with evidence gradually being presented. However, neither Russia nor North Korea has confirmed or denied the deployment of North Korean troops.