Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed for the first time that two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces were recently sent to South Korea. The South Korean government declined to detail the transfer process, citing the safety of those involved, but did not deny Zelenskyy's announcement, effectively confirming their arrival.
Zelenskyy: Two North Korean POWs Recently Sent to South Korea
Zelenskyy said in an address to the 81st U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York on the 23rd that "we recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea."
He also described the circumstances of their capture. "These are not easy to take alive," Zelenskyy said. "One of them tried to take his own life when he realized he was about to be captured, and was shocked that fate did not let him die."
"This is how people are raised in North Korea," he added, criticizing the North Korean system. "They are stripped of their freedom and their right to choose."
He continued his criticism of North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. "Why should North Koreans give their lives in a war against Ukraine, and should such forces be given more time to learn how to wage war?" Zelenskyy asked.
"Kim Jong-un is using them like currency and getting something in return," he said. "Countries across Asia have surely already noticed North Korea's improved ballistic missiles and greatly advanced drone capabilities."
"The North Korean leader sent his own troops to Russia to shore up the weak points of the Russian military, and North Korean forces have also suffered enormous losses," he said, indicating that the prolonged Russian war is spreading its effects to other regions.
Government Also Effectively Confirms; Transfer Route Withheld
The South Korean government did not deny that the two North Korean POWs had come to South Korea.
A Foreign Ministry official said on the 24th: "As this matter concerns the personal safety of those involved and their families, we ask for your understanding that we cannot confirm the handling of individual personnel, the timing or route, or the specific content of consultations between the two countries."
The official added, however, that "the government has consistently maintained the position that the issue of North Korean POWs in Ukraine must be resolved in a manner that respects the free will of those involved and conforms to international law and humanitarian principles," explaining that "in line with this position, we have carried out the necessary communication and consultations with Ukraine and other relevant countries and institutions."
The South Korean government has said it would accept North Korean POWs who wish to come to South Korea. In July, the Foreign Ministry said it was in communication with Ukraine on the POW issue and reaffirmed its position that the free will of the prisoners themselves must be respected.
The two North Korean POWs reported to have arrived in South Korea were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in January last year. Zelenskyy disclosed their capture at the time via social media, and the two subsequently expressed a desire to go to South Korea rather than North Korea through media interviews and handwritten letters delivered to North Korean defector groups. Foreign news reports also confirm that Ukraine captured them in the Kursk region.
Sought to Come to South Korea After Capture; Seoul-Kyiv Talks Continued
Consultations between the South Korean and Ukrainian governments over the handling of the North Korean POWs have also continued.
At a foreign ministers' meeting in March, the two sides agreed to cooperate in resolving the North Korean POW issue in accordance with the free will of those involved, international law and humanitarian principles.
President Lee Jae-myung then met Zelenskyy on July 8 on the sidelines of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and discussed the North Korean POW issue. The two leaders agreed to address the matter in a way that respects the free will of those involved and conforms to international law and humanitarian principles.
The government has said that, based on its fundamental position under the Constitution and related laws regarding North Korean residents, it will provide necessary protection and support to North Korean POWs who express a wish to come to South Korea.
It has not been disclosed, however, when or by what route the two POWs entered South Korea, or where they are currently being held. The Foreign Ministry has likewise declined to confirm the specifics of their custody, citing the safety of those involved and their families.
