Cheong Wa Dae Says 'Necessary Consultations Held' on Transfer of Two North Korean POWs

Regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disclosure during his United Nations address that two North Korean prisoners of war were sent to South Korea, Cheong Wa Dae stated that "necessary communication and consultations have been conducted with relevant countries and agencies, including Ukraine."

An official from Cheong Wa Dae explained on September 24, "Regarding the issue of North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine, the government has maintained a consistent stance that it should be resolved in a manner that respects the free will of the individuals and conforms to international law and humanitarian principles."

Earlier, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed a similar stance, which observers view as effectively confirming President Zelenskyy's remarks.

However, the Cheong Wa Dae official stated, "This matter is sensitive as it involves the personal safety of the individuals and their families," adding, "It is difficult to confirm whether custody of individual personnel has been processed, the timing and route, or the specific details of consultations between the two countries."


On September 23 (local time), delivering an address at the UN General Assembly, President Zelenskyy revealed, "Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea."

The two North Korean POWs were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia in January of last year, and have since expressed their desire to defect to South Korea through media interviews and handwritten letters delivered to North Korean defector groups.

The South Korean government has maintained the position that North Korean POWs are South Korean citizens under the Constitution, and that it will provide necessary protection and support in accordance with relevant laws and the fundamental principle of accepting all individuals who request to go to South Korea.

During a summit held on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in July, President Lee Jae-myung and President Zelenskyy agreed to resolve the issue of North Korean prisoners of war in a way that respects the individuals' free will and adheres to international law and humanitarian principles.

(Photo courtesy of Gyeoreoul Unification Coalition, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.