How many North Koreans died in the Kursk region? When will Trump meet Putin? Who is calling for a reduction in the conscription age? A roundup of global news.

For the first time, Ukrainians have managed to capture soldiers from North Korea, demonstrating to the world that Ukraine is currently at war with the armies of two nuclear states, reported the British news agency Reuters. So far, Russia has not confirmed the presence of North Korean troops on its territory or their involvement in the war against Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers are supporting the Russian army in the Kursk region, which has been unsuccessfully trying to push the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of Russian territory for over five months.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he is ready to exchange North Korean prisoners of war for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia. However, the authorities of Russia and North Korea have not responded to this proposal. Both countries continue to pretend that there are no North Korean troops on Russian territory.

The Ukrainian side released a video of the interrogation of two wounded North Korean prisoners of war. One of the men assured through a translator that he did not know he was fighting against Ukraine. According to him, his commanders told him that he came to Russia to participate in military exercises. The prisoner stated that if ordered to return to North Korea, he would comply, but he is willing to stay in Ukraine if given the opportunity.

More than 300 North Korean soldiers have already died in combat. Another 2,700 soldiers of Kim Jong Un's army have been injured. This information was reported by the leading South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing data from South Korean intelligence.

“North Korean troops are primarily deployed in the Kursk region of Russia and are actively participating in combat operations. Their losses have already exceeded 3,000 killed and wounded,” said South Korean parliament member Lee Song Kwon after a closed briefing held by the country's National Intelligence Service.

According to Lee Song Kwon, soldiers from the elite North Korean assault corps received orders to kill themselves rather than surrender.

“Notes found with the deceased soldiers indicate that North Korean authorities pressured them to commit suicide before being captured.”

One of the North Korean soldiers whom Ukrainians were about to capture shouted “General Kim Jong Un” and attempted to detonate a grenade but was shot by Ukrainian forces, Lee Song Kwon added.

The American news agency Associated Press noted that the North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine refused to switch sides to Ukraine or South Korea.

The National Intelligence Service of South Korea informed parliament members during a closed briefing that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces during combat in the Kursk region did not express a desire to seek asylum in South Korea.

The intelligence agency confirmed its involvement in the interrogations of North Korean military personnel by Ukrainian authorities. The deployment of North Korean troops in Russia for the war against Ukraine is fostering a closer alignment of positions between Kyiv and Seoul, opening opportunities for more extensive cooperation between the two countries. South Korea is one of the largest producers and exporters of weapons in the world. However, Seoul has never sent military aid to Kyiv directly.

According to the National Intelligence Service of South Korea, North Korean soldiers poorly understand the demands and realities of modern warfare and are being used by Russia in a manner that leads to “a significant number of casualties.” This was reported by the French state news agency France 24.

Despite the low effectiveness of North Korean troops in battles against the Ukrainian army, Kim Jong Un may view the participation of his soldiers in the war as a unique opportunity to gain experience in combat operations under modern conditions. Military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is likely to continue deepening, as both Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin see such cooperation as mutually beneficial, noted France 24.

Kim Jong Un may be planning a visit to Russia in the first half of this year to discuss further military cooperation and the dispatch of more North Korean soldiers to Russia, France 24 reported, citing the National Intelligence Service of South Korea.

Despite the significant numerical advantage of Russian and North Korean troops, the Ukrainian army is managing to maintain control over a substantial part of the Kursk region. However, it remains uncertain whether Ukraine can leverage the occupation of Russian territory as a bargaining chip to strengthen its negotiating position in the future.

Meanwhile, preparations for a meeting between Trump and Putin to discuss the possibility of ending the war in Ukraine have already begun, confirmed in an interview ABC News Mike Waltz, national security advisor to newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump believes that it is impossible to start negotiations without having any relationship or dialogue with the other side. And we will establish a dialogue with the Russian side. In the coming days or weeks, Donald Trump will likely speak with Vladimir Putin on the phone. President Zelensky is ready to cooperate with us to end the war. Let’s end the war with a fair peace,” said Mike Waltz.

Additionally, Mike Waltz mentioned that after Donald Trump’s inauguration, the White House will be “asking Ukrainians to address personnel issues.” Waltz acknowledged that, in his opinion, to stabilize the front, Ukraine needs to lower the conscription age and start recruiting younger individuals into the army.

“Ukraine has real problems on the battlefield due to a shortage of soldiers. Their conscription age is 26, not 18. This is a problem. Ukraine could mobilize hundreds of thousands of recruits if it lowers the conscription age. If Ukrainians are asking the entire world to help protect their democracy from Russian aggression, they must also be ready to fully defend themselves. It’s not just about weapons, ammunition, and writing new checks for military assistance. It’s about stabilizing the front so we can start negotiations for peace,” noted Mike Waltz.

At the same time, Waltz did not deny that lowering the conscription age could become one of the key conditions for the continuation of military support for Ukraine from the U.S.