Repatriation or life among 'enemies' Fate of North Koreans captured in Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to hand over two North Korean soldiers captured by Kyiv in exchange for the return of prisoners of war held in Russia. But the future of the two injured men, who have been interrogated in their hospital beds, is far from certain.

- Justin McCurry, Raphael Rashid

Speaking after South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirmed Ukraine's claim that it had captured the two soldiers - part of a North Korean force estimated at 11,000 - the Ukrainian president issued an important caveat. "For those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return, there may be other options available," he said. "In particular, those who express a desire to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean will be given that opportunity."

In their interviews, shown in a clip accompanying Zelenskyy's post, one of the two men said he wanted to return to North Korea, while the other initially said he wanted to remain in Ukraine but later added he would return home "if required". One of the men, speaking to a Ukrainian official through an interpreter, claimed he did not know he was going to fight in a war against Ukraine, adding that his commanders had told him it was "just training".

A South Korean MP yesterday said about 300 North Korean soldiers had been killed and 2,700 injured since their deployment late last year. "The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia has reportedly expanded to include the Kursk region, with estimates suggesting that casualties among North Korean forces have surpassed 3,000," Lee Seong-kweun said after a briefing from the South's spy agency.