World & BusinessTwo North Korean prisoners of war reportedly transferred from Ukraine to South Korea
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the transfer at the UN General Assembly, Reuters reports. South Korea would not confirm it, citing safety concerns for the soldiers and their families.
TLDR
Zelenskiy said on September 23 that Ukraine had sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Reuters reports. The soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. Reuters says human rights groups had urged Ukraine to send them to South Korea, citing the risk of punishment if they returned to North Korea. The Korea Times reports that both had expressed a desire to go to South Korea through interviews and handwritten letters. South Korea has not formally confirmed the transfer, citing security concerns, the newspaper says.
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Two North Korean prisoners of war reportedly transferred from Ukraine to South Korea
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the transfer at the UN General Assembly, Reuters reports. South Korea would not confirm it, citing safety concerns for the soldiers and their families.
TLDR
Zelenskiy said on September 23 that Ukraine had sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Reuters reports. The soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. Reuters says human rights groups had urged Ukraine to send them to South Korea, citing the risk of punishment if they returned to North Korea. The Korea Times reports that both had expressed a desire to go to South Korea through interviews and handwritten letters. South Korea has not formally confirmed the transfer, citing security concerns, the newspaper says.