Ukraine sent two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, Zelenskyy says
UNITED NATIONS/SEOUL — Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday in an address to the United Nations General Assembly. "Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea," said Zelenskyy in his speech. "These guys are not easy to capture alive. One of them, when he realized he was…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that his country has transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Zelenskyy stated that these individuals were sent to the Republic of Korea recently. One of the soldiers attempted to take his own life upon realizing he had been taken prisoner, but his fate did not allow for it.
Zelenskyy did not provide further details regarding the handover. The two North Koreans were captured alive in Russia's Kursk region in January of the previous year, marking the first such capture since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2024. At the time of their capture, Zelenskyy had expressed a willingness to exchange them for Ukrainians held captive in Russia, if he could facilitate the exchange.
However, human rights groups pressed for their repatriation to South Korea, citing the potential risks and punishments the soldiers may face. South Korean media reported that the two North Koreans have been transferred to their country.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
