"In a letter the South Korean presidential administration demanded an apology from Ukraine.
The transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul took place on August 15, and Ukraine announced it on August 20 without notifying Seoul in advance.
The South Korean government claims that Ukraine violated a confidentiality agreement signed during negotiations in Tokyo in July." UN
"Ukraine has transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia to South Korea, Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” the Ukrainian president said, revealing that the prisoners had left Ukrainian custody." msn
"Zelensky looked tired. His delivery was halting. Like the country he leads he can barely comprehend that he is still talking of war into the fifth year of Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
He has a new message and a new way to deliver it. Vladimir Putin, he told the assembled world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, is “patient zero” spreading the infection of war to Africa, Asia, all over the world.“Putin is always looking for someone who can help him kill more, kill more people for every kilometer of land, take more territory, attack another country instead of simply stopping and running his own country,” the Ukrainian president said.
But Ukraine’s president didn't actually go in to that detail. He took a more subtle approach - warning that Asia could not risk the contagion from "patient zero” carried through Pyongyang.
“His comrade, the leader of North Korea, sent his troops to Russia to support the weak points of the Russian army. The North Koreans also suffered losses, heavy losses. Kim Jong-un uses them like currency and he gets something in return. And North Korea's neighbors and countries across Asia have probably already noticed its improved ballistic missiles and Pyongyang's much greater drone capabilities,” Zelensky observed.
In short - Ukraine’s problem is now global - but Kyiv has the jab." msn
"The South Korean military fired warning shots last week after a group of soldiers from North Korea crossed the demarcation line between the rival countries, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday. Seoul said the North Korean soldiers crossed the border in the eastern part of the demilitarized zone in what was the first such violation this year. The soldiers were patrolling the area when they crossed over into South Korea, the news agency reported, citing an unnamed government source." msn
"Preliminary information indicates that a North Korean missile may have been used in a strike that killed at least six family members in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during Moscow's mass attack on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.While North Korean missile have previously been used by in Russian attacks against Ukraine, the strikes marks the first such use in nearly a year. Military sources told Reuters that the last confirmed use occurred in August 2025.
Local media reported that six family members had been confirmed killed in the village of Radushne outside Kryvyi Rih as of 6 p.m. local time, while identification work continued. Zelensky previously identified two parents and three children as victims, as searches continue underneath the rubble of the home.
"Of course, more examinations will follow, and everything will be verified, but as of now – it is a North Korean ballistic missile," the president said " KI
"Fighters from North Korea, several African countries, Central Asia and now reportedly China have all appeared on the battlefield supporting Moscow’s war effort.
The growing presence of foreign nationals in Russian units is now creating diplomaticcomplications for the Kremlin after two Chinese citizens captured by Ukraine remained in custody for more than a year.
According to Ukrainian officials cited by O2, two Chinese citizens captured during fighting last year remain in Ukrainian custody.
Bohdan Okhrimenko, head of Ukraine’s Main Coordination Office for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said the men were detained during combat operations against Russian forces.
He also suggested the captured fighters may possess Russian passports, although that has not been independently verified.
“The Chinese government has appealed to the Ukrainian side to adhere to international standards in the treatment of detained Chinese citizens,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, according to Obozrevatel." msn
"Ukrainian authorities said they have dismantled an illegal arms trafficking network that allegedly funneled weapons to pro-Russian public figures and politicians, including U.S. actor Steven Seagal and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
The National Police of Ukraine said in an April 28 statement that the network sourced weapons from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories and through illegal imports from Slovakia. Some of the weapons were distributed as so-called "prizes" by Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-installed administration in occupied Donetsk Oblast.
Police said the list of recipients includes a range of high-profile figures, including senior Russian officials and foreign leaders.
"Kim Jong-un, Bashar al-Assad, Dmitry Medvedev, Sergey Sobyanin, Sergey Lavrov, Ramzan Kadyrov, Steven Seagal, Yulia Chicherina, Vladimir Solovyov, Alexander Sidyakin, and Vladimir Saldo — these are the individuals who received 'prize' weapons from … Denis Pushilin," the statement said.
Seagal, who rose to fame as an action star in the 1980s and 1990s, later developed close ties to Russia and President Vladimir Putin as his Hollywood career declined." KI
"SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said that Ukraine has assured him that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russia will not be repatriated to Moscow.
Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary session, responding to a lawmaker's questionregarding the captives who remain in Ukrainian custody since they were captured during combat on Russia's side in the front-line Kursk region in January last year.
Earlier this month, Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party said after visiting Ukraine that Russia had included the two soldiers on its list of prisoners it demanded be released in a prisoner-of-war (POW) exchange.
Through media interviews, the soldiers have expressed their intention to come to South Korea rather than being sent back to the North.
Yu has called for sending a presidential envoy to Ukraine to discuss their defection, saying their repatriation to Pyongyang cannot be ruled out." msn
"The Australian defense ministry has accused the Chinese navy of another “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” that endangered lives.
The encounter follows a string of complaints from Australia, the Philippines, Japan, and other U.S. allies about alleged unsafe behavior by the Chinese military in recent years.
Beijing has frequently rejected these accusations and accused the other party of violating its sovereignty and of threatening regional stability.In a statement, the ministry said a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter intercepted an Australian Defense Force (ADF) MH-60R helicopter launched from Anzaz-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba. The vessel was conducting a routine activity in international waters in the Yellow Sea as part of a multinational operation to enforce U.N. sanctions against North Korea.
“The PLA-N helicopter moved slightly ahead, increased speed and then rolled towards the ADF helicopter, which required evasive action to maintain safe flight,” the ministry stated, calling it an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver that posed a risk to our aircraft and its personnel.
“HMAS Toowoomba and its embarked helicopter acted in accordance with international law at all times.”
The incident follows an October encounter between a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet and an Australian air force P-8A Poseidon patrol plane. The PLA plane reportedly fired flares in proximity to the Australian aircraft, an unsafe maneuver that put the crew at risk, Canberra said." msn
"Authorized delegations from South Korea and Russia recently held closed-door talks in
Moscow on North Korea’s nuclear program and other pressing regional security issues.
The South Korean official asked Russia to play a constructive role in ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula, as Seoul seeks to resume dialogue with North Korea as soon as possible and is also making efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine." Ukrin
"The Russian Energy Week International Forum (REW) will take place from October 15 to 17 in Moscow, serving as one of the world’s leading platforms for dialogue on the future of global energy and fuel industries.
Notable international participants include:
Kim Yu Il, Minister of Electric Power Industry of North Korea;
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary;
Abdul Latif Mansour, Minister of Energy and Water of Afghanistan;
Delcy RodrÃguez, Vice President and Minister of Petroleum of Venezuela (joining via video link).
Featuring over 70 sessions and discussions, REW 2025 will center on multilateral cooperation in energy and explore Russia’s role in the evolving multipolar energy landscape." Sputnik
"North Korea has issued a chilling war warning, threatening “grave consequences” after the
US, Japan, and South Korea held a major air drill featuring a US B-52 bomber. Pyongyang called the drills “provocative,” while Russia also cautioned the West against raising tensions." WION
"North Korea is preparing to set an additional 25,000-30,000 soldiers to join Russian forces fighting against Ukraine, almost three times as many as were dispatched last year, CNN reported on July 2, citing undisclosed Ukrainian officials.
The fresh units may arrive in the coming months and are likely to be engaged in combat in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, including during "large-scale offensive operations," according to a Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) assessment reviewed by CNN." KI
"North Korea became something of a widespread punchline Wednesday when a ballyhooed launch of the nation’s fancy new naval destroyer ended up, well, destroyed.
And North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is steaming mad about it....the 5,000-ton naval destroyer — an impressive spectacle — met its demise due to a snafu from trying to get into the water.
A hitch with the ramp at the northeastern port of Chongjin caused the whole destroyer to become unbalanced, crushing the bottom of the ship. It got stuck before ultimately falling into the water on its side." WJ
"North Korea has sent additional troops to Russia’s Kursk Oblast. The exact number of military personnel remains unknown." Pravada
"Soldiers sent by Pyongyang to Russia’s Kursk region have halted combat after suffering major casualties, South Korea’s security services say." AJ
"Operatives from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have killed 21 and wounded 40 North Korean soldiers who were advancing on Ukrainian positions in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. The operatives from the 8th SOF Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, alongside friendly infantry troops, used small arms and grenade launchers to repel an assault of North Korean soldiers fighting on the side of Russia which lasted for over eight hours. Snipers also participated in the operation." Pravada
"As Ukrainian forces fight in the western Russian region of Kursk, they are encountering a new enemy – elite North Korean servicemen.
On Sunday, Ukrainian infantry and armoued vehicles resumed an offensive in three directions in Kursk, trying to fence their toehold in the district centre of Sudzha that they had seized in August.
By Tuesday, they occupied at least three villages northeast of Sudzha – and inflicted losses on the North Koreans that fight in separate units under Russian command.
“We thinned their ranks – they have losses, although Kim didn’t just send ordinary servicemen,” a Ukrainian soldier told Al Jazeera, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.Russians keep advancing despite a reported lack of tanks and armored vehicles.
“They keep pushing. The only problem they have is their equipment, they can’t throw it around the way they did three or four months ago,” he said.
But the biggest problem his unit – as well as all of Ukraine’s armed forces – faces is a dire shortage of manpower.
Last week, Ukrainian troops retreated from the eastern town of Kurakhove, which Russian troops claimed control of on Monday.
Russians keep advancing despite a reported lack of tanks and armored vehicles.
“They keep pushing. The only problem they have is their equipment, they can’t throw it around the way they did three or four months ago,” he said.
But the biggest problem his unit – as well as all of Ukraine’s armed forces – faces is a dire shortage of manpower.
Last week, Ukrainian troops retreated from the eastern town of Kurakhove, which Russian troops claimed control of on Monday." AJ
"Ukrainian forces have likely captured a North Korean prisoner of war in what could be the first instance of its kind, a Ukrainian news report has said, as North Korean troops were fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine.
Ukraine's special operations troops reportedly took the soldier during operations in Russia's western frontline region of Kursk." MS
"Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF) revealed that a notebook belonging to a deceasedNorth Korean soldier, Private Gyeong Hong Jong, contained tactics for shooting down drones and avoiding Ukrainian artillery fire.
The notes described a method using "live bait" to lure drones: one soldier stands still to attract the drone, while others position themselves to shoot it down. The notebook also detailed strategies for avoiding artillery, including dispersing into small groups or hiding in areas already struck." MS
