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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. These soldiers were captured while fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukraine and had previously expressed a desire to defect. South Korean officials confirmed the transfer but did not disclose details about their current location or conditions, citing safety concerns.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country had transferred two North Korean soldiers, captured while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region, to South Korea. The North Koreans were originally deployed to support Russian forces against Ukraine and were taken prisoner by Ukrainian troops in January 2023.
However, South Korea's presidential office expressed strong regret over this disclosure, accusing Ukraine of breaching a non-disclosure agreement aimed at protecting the soldiers' safety upon transfer. Seoul’s senior presidential secretary for public relations, Seong Ghi-hong, stated that the agreement was to keep details secret due to security and humanitarian concerns.
The diplomatic spat has led South Korea to demand an official apology from Ukraine, citing damage to bilateral trust and potential domestic criticism in Kyiv if the exchange had been disclosed. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s aide Dmytro Lytvyn defended the disclosure, saying it was only meant to report the fact of the transfer, not violate any agreement.
This incident risks complicating future cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine, including possible suspensions of non-lethal aid from Seoul to Kyiv. The row underscores tensions over confidentiality agreements in international military matters.
Written for “North Korean POW Transfer” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 20 other(s) covering the same event.
Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday in an address to the United Nations General Assembly.
asserted
Zelensky → transfer → Assembly
“Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” said Zelensky in his speech.
asserted
Zelensky → send → speech
“These guys are not easy to capture alive.
asserted
guys → capture → ?
One of them, when he realized he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself.
asserted
he → realize → himself
And he was shocked that fate did not let him die.”
asserted
him → let → ?
Zelensky did not provide more details about the return.
asserted
Zelensky → provide → return
Zelensky said at the time that he would hand them over to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if he could facilitate their exchange for Ukrainians held captive in Russia.
uncertain
he → say → Russia
Human rights groups, however, urged him to repatriate them to South Korea, citing the risks of punishments the soldiers faced.
asserted
soldiers → urge → punishments
South Korean media reported that the two captured soldiers had expressed their desire to defect to South Korea.
asserted
soldiers → report → Korea
South Korean opposition lawmaker Yu Yong-weon told reporters on Thursday that the two North Koreans had left Ukraine last weekend, transited through a third country and arrived in South Korea three to four days ago, Yonhap News Agency reported.
asserted
Agency → tell → Korea
“While their exact location is unknown, I believe our intelligence agencies are protecting them,” Yu was quoted as saying.
asserted
Yu → believe → them
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it would not be able to confirm the matter, citing the need to protect the safety of the soldiers and their families.
asserted
it → say → soldiers
The country’s Unification Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
asserted
Ministry → respond → comment
South Korea in June said it would accept all North Korean prisoners of war who fought for Russia and opposed any repatriation of them to Russia or North Korea.
asserted
who → say → Russia
Why should Koreans give their lives in a war against Ukraine?
asserted
Koreans → give → Ukraine
Kim Jong Un uses them like currency.
asserted
Un → use → currency
And he gets something in return,” he said.
asserted
he → get → return
North Korea has sent around 14,000 to 15,000 soldiers since 2024 to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates.
uncertain
Korea → send → estimates
Most of them have been deployed in the Russian region of Kursk, where they helped Moscow’s forces repel a Ukrainian incursion.
asserted
forces → deploy → incursion
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