Zelenskyy Says Two North Korean POWs Sent to South Korea; Seoul Virtually Acknowledges Transfer

▲ Two North Korean POWs captured by Ukrainian forces

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise disclosure that two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured by Ukrainian forces were recently sent to South Korea.

The South Korean government also did not deny their arrival and virtually confirmed the transfer of the North Korean POWs to the country, though an atmosphere of embarrassment is being sensed within the administration.

In an address at the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday (September 23, local time), President Zelenskyy stated, "We recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea."

He criticized the North Korean regime, recounting circumstances in which one of the prisoners had attempted to take his own life at the time of capture.

He continued, "Why should North Koreans sacrifice their lives in the war in Ukraine?" criticizing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and remarking that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is using North Korean soldiers "like currency."

This marks the first time that specific details regarding the disposition of North Korean soldiers captured after being deployed to the war in Ukraine have been confirmed.

The two POWs transferred to South Korea were captured in the Kursk region of Russia in January last year, and had expressed their desire to go to South Korea through media interviews and letters sent to North Korean defector groups.

The South Korean government also virtually acknowledged the transfer shortly after President Zelenskyy's remarks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today (September 24), "In line with our consistent position that the issue should be resolved in a manner respecting the free will of the individuals and in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles, we have been holding consultations with the Ukrainian side and other relevant parties."

However, the ministry added, "As this is a sensitive issue concerning personal safety, it is difficult to confirm specific details such as the timing or route of entry for the individuals, or the specifics of bilateral discussions between the two nations."

The two governments have been engaging in continuous consultations regarding the handling of North Korean POWs.

Following bilateral foreign ministers' meetings in March and June, the two countries also agreed on the principle of a humanitarian resolution respecting the individuals' wishes during a South Korea-Ukraine summit held in Ankara, Türkiye, in July.

The South Korean government has maintained a fundamental policy of accepting all North Korean prisoners of war who wish to resettle in South Korea, as they are considered South Korean citizens under the Constitution.

However, an uneasy atmosphere has emerged within the government regarding President Zelenskyy's approach of directly revealing the transfer to the entire world.

Ukrainian intelligence authorities had also previously requested strict confidentiality from South Korea to protect the personal safety of the individuals and their families.

While President Zelenskyy made the disclosure public in an effort to highlight the dangers of close military alignment between North Korea and Russia to the international community, the South Korean government has not issued a separate official stance regarding the background or intentions behind his announcement.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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