Seoul: Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

The two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 after North Korean troops were deployed to support Russian forces in the war against Ukraine. They were among the first North Korean soldiers known to have been captured alive during the conflict.

Zelenskyy did not provide details about when or how the transfer was completed. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry also declined to disclose specific information, citing the safety of the soldiers and their families.

Seoul said it had maintained consultations with Ukraine and other relevant parties over the fate of the prisoners. The South Korean government has emphasized that any resolution should respect the individuals’ wishes and comply with international law and humanitarian principles.

The two soldiers had previously expressed a desire to go to South Korea rather than return to North Korea. Their future had been the subject of discussions between Kyiv and Seoul for several months.

The issue is particularly sensitive because North Korea does not recognize South Korea as a separate legitimate state and has maintained a hostile relationship with Seoul for decades.

The soldiers were captured after North Korean military personnel became involved in Russia’s war effort. Ukraine and South Korea have said thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, particularly in the Kursk region.

Their transfer also carries wider diplomatic significance because it connects the Russia-Ukraine conflict with tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia has become an increasingly important part of the international debate surrounding the war.

For Ukraine, the case also provides evidence of North Korean military involvement on the battlefield. For South Korea, the arrival of the two prisoners creates an opportunity to obtain firsthand information about their experiences and circumstances.

Authorities are expected to handle the soldiers’ security and status carefully because of the potential risks associated with their families and their previous service in North Korea.

The South Korean government has not publicly released details about the men’s current location or the arrangements under which they entered the country.

The transfer marks a significant development involving prisoners captured during the Russia-Ukraine conflict and demonstrates the complex diplomatic issues created by North Korea’s military involvement in the war.

Further details could emerge as Seoul and Kyiv clarify the circumstances surrounding the transfer while protecting the identities and safety of the two individuals.