No mention of repatriating North Korean POWs to South Korea; Zelensky says North Korea producing Shahed-type drones with Russian technical support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [Xinhua]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [Xinhua]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday (local time) that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed on Russian territory and that preparations are underway to deploy an additional 10,000 soldiers. He also said North Korea is producing Shahed-type attack drones on its own soil using technology support provided by Russia in exchange for the troop deployment.

According to the Ukrainian presidential office, Zelensky made the disclosure during a nationally televised address Monday afternoon, saying, "There are currently more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory, and preparations are underway to deploy an additional 10,000."

On the additional troops, he said, "A selection process is underway to train and deploy them to Russia."

He went on to say that "Russia is providing technology and other support in exchange for the deployment of North Korean troops," adding that "production of Shahed-type attack drones is taking place on North Korean territory with Russian technical assistance."

"This is how evil spreads — how a threat to life in one region spills over into another," Zelensky said. "Only by acting together can we overcome it."

However, Zelensky made no mention of repatriating North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

The issue had sparked controversy after Zelensky publicly announced at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday that two North Korean POWs had been transferred to South Korea, prompting conflicting accounts over whether a confidential agreement between Seoul and Kyiv had existed.

Cheong Wa Dae said Monday that "it is a serious problem that the Ukrainian side unilaterally disclosed the matter without prior consultation or even notification, in violation of a confidential agreement — but announcing the false claim that 'there was no confidential agreement' gravely undermines trust between the two governments," and called for an official explanation and apology from Ukraine.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Andrii Beshkin, the acting Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, that day to convey the government's stern position on the repatriation of the North Korean POWs.

Ukraine has continued to reiterate its position that North Korean troops' combat experience could pose a threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidential office, also posted on social media Monday, citing a Newsforce interview, and said of the North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine: "North Korea is arming itself by learning from our war."

He went on to say that North Korea's actions were aimed above all at "preparing for active combat operations in its own region."

Budanov said "yet another incident has occurred very recently at the MDL between South and North Korea," adding that "the situation is deteriorating by the day." He said "it is only a matter of time before an incident occurs that could lead to uncontrollable consequences."

The "incident" he referred to appears to be a recent suspected mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone. A suspected landmine blast occurred during a DMZ search operation conducted by a frontline unit of the Army's 25th Infantry Division, which oversees the western front, on Sept. 21, injuring three South Korean military officers — some seriously. The South Korean military said the explosion was highly likely caused by a North Korean mine and announced Monday that if it is officially determined to have been a North Korean-planted mine, "corresponding measures" will be taken.

Budanov also wrote that "North Korea is upgrading its weapons based on combat experience in Ukraine," and that the country "is introducing new types of weapons, some of which are of Russian origin."


mokiya@heraldcorp.com