**Ukraine Offers to Release Two North Korean Soldiers**
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that he is willing to release two soldiers from North Korea who were captured by Ukrainian forces. The soldiers will be sent back home in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia.
Zelensky made the announcement on social media and added that for any North Korean soldiers who do not want to return home, there may be other options available. He also said that those who wish to spread the truth about the war in Ukraine can stay and help bring peace closer.
**The Capture of the Soldiers**
Ukraine reported that the two soldiers were captured on January 9th. They are being held in Kyiv and are receiving medical care. The only language they speak is Korean, so they are being questioned with the assistance of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Zelensky shared photos of the injured soldiers on social media. He also posted a photo of a Russian military ID card that was found on one of the soldiers. The card had a place of birth listed as Turan, in the Tuva Republic, which is close to Mongolia.
**Allegations of Using North Korean Troops**
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that when questioned, one of the soldiers revealed that he and other North Korean combat units had received interoperability training with Russian forces. The soldier claimed that this was for training purposes only, not to fight against Ukraine.
Zelensky’s office accused Russia of trying to hide the fact that these soldiers were from North Korea by giving them fake documents claiming they were from Tuva or other territories under Moscow‘s control.
**The Geneva Convention and International Reaction**
The SBU said that the questioning of prisoners should be carried out in a language they understand, and prisoners must be protected against public curiosity. BBC News and other international media have not yet verified Ukraine’s account of the prisoners and their capture.
Ukraine and South Korea reported last year that North Korea had sent at least 10,000 troops to Russia. The White House said that North Korean forces were experiencing mass casualties, and a North Korean soldier who was captured while supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine died after being taken alive by Ukrainian forces.
Read More @ www.bbc.com