United News of Bangladesh

South Korea’s spy agency said Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea was likely intended to build public support for greater assistance to Ukraine. Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during his speech at the United Nations last week, surprising South Korean officials and prompting strong protests from Seoul. South Korea asked Kyiv to apologize and explain what it called a breach of an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Ukraine denied making such an agreement. The dispute has strained the traditionally friendly relations between South Korea and Ukraine, though it remains unclear whether it will have broader consequences. The two North Korean soldiers were among thousands of troops sent by Pyongyang to support Russia in fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region. North Korea has also supplied conventional weapons to Russia as part of expanding military cooperation between the two countries. Ukraine has not responded to South Korea’s demand for an apology. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service briefed a parliamentary committee behind closed doors Wednesday. Lawmaker Yoo Yeong-ha, who attended the meeting, said the agency told lawmakers that Ukraine had not offered an apology or expressed regret through either official or unofficial channels. The agency assessed that Zelenskyy likely disclosed the transfer to encourage South Korean public support for providing weapons and other assistance to Ukraine, Yoo said. He did not explain how the agency reached that conclusion. South Korea has provided humanitarian and other support to Ukraine but has not supplied weapons, following its policy of not sending arms to countries involved in active conflicts. Another lawmaker, Yun Kun-young, said the agency told lawmakers that the two North Korean prisoners arrived in South Korea in mid-September and were in generally good health. While in Ukraine, they expressed a desire to settle in South Korea, Yun said. North Korea has not publicly commented on the transfer. It has previously accused South Korea of abducting or persuading North Koreans to defect. South Korean officials have expressed concern about the safety of the two soldiers and their relatives in North Korea. Experts have also warned that the transfer could provoke a response from Pyongyang and complicate efforts to resume talks between North Korea and the United States. Yun said the intelligence agency estimates that about 9,000 North Korean soldiers are currently involved in surveillance operations in the Kursk region. The agency also told lawmakers that Russia has provided North Korea with weapons technology to support its military modernization. However, Moscow has been reluctant to share advanced technology related to nuclear-powered submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles, Yun said. Kim Jong Un’s daughter strengthens position as possible successorThe intelligence agency also assessed that the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has strengthened her position as his likely successor, Yun said. He said the agency told lawmakers that Kim’s daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and believed to be about 13, has made around 30 public appearances with her father this year. That is the highest number recorded during the same period since she first appeared publicly in late 2022. Some experts, however, caution against concluding that she will succeed her father, pointing to North Korea’s strongly male-dominated political system. Yoo said the intelligence agency observed that Kim’s daughter has sought to present a more mature image by wearing women’s suits and pointed-toe heels. The agency has previously used artificial intelligence, high-resolution video analysis and other methods to assess Kim Jong Un’s health. At Wednesday’s meeting, the agency said Kim remains severely obese but showed no signs of other major health problems, Yun said.