Ukraine Transfers Two Captured North Korean Soldiers to South Korea

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Seoul: Ukraine has sent two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces to South Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

The two troops were detained by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025, having been dispatched there as part of North Korea's military support for Russia's war against Ukraine. They were the first North Korean soldiers to be taken alive since Pyongyang's military involvement in the fight.

Zelensky stated that Ukraine had just moved the inmates to the Republic of Korea, but did not provide information about the timing or route of the transfer. South Korea's Foreign Ministry declined to confirm the details, citing worries for the troops' and their families' safety. Seoul, on the other hand, stated that it had held conversations with Ukraine and other relevant parties and that it remains committed to preserving the soldiers' free will and international law.

South Korean media had earlier stated that the two soldiers wanted to reside in South Korea rather than return to North Korea. A South Korean politician then stated that they had arrived in the country some days earlier via a third country, though officials have not publicly confirmed these claims.

The transfer comes after months of discussions between Kyiv and Seoul. South Korea said that it was willing to welcome North Korean inmates who desired to relocate in the South, but human rights organisations had warned of possible punishment if the troops were returned to North Korea.

Ukraine and South Korea estimate that North Korea has dispatched between 14,000 and 15,000 troops to Russia since 2024, with many stationed in the Kursk region.