Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced during an address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to Reuters reporting from September 2026. The repatriation comes after the two soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region, marking the first known apprehension of North Korean troops alive since Pyongyang entered the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2024.
## Details of the Prisoner Transfer to South Korea
According to Zelenskiy’s UN General Assembly address, the two captured soldiers were recently sent to the Republic of Korea. “These guys are not easy to capture alive,” Zelenskiy said in his speech, noting that one soldier tried to kill himself upon realizing he was being taken prisoner and expressed shock that he survived.
Ukraine originally captured the two men in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. South Korean intelligence, via the National Intelligence Service (NIS), confirmed the capture at the time following real-time cooperation with Ukraine’s SBU intelligence agency, according to Deutsche Welle (DW). Initial interrogations revealed that one of the soldiers believed he was being sent to Russia strictly for training, only realizing upon arrival that he was deployed to a combat zone.
## Defection Desires and International Response
Human rights groups previously urged Kyiv to repatriate the captured soldiers to South Korea rather than exchanging them with Pyongyang, citing severe punishments the men would face if returned to North Korea. South Korean media reported that both soldiers expressed a clear desire to defect to the South.
South Korea’s foreign ministry declined to confirm details of the return, including the exact timing, citing the safety of the soldiers and their families. However, the South Korean government announced in June that it would accept all North Korean prisoners of war who fought for Russia and strongly opposed any repatriation to Russia or North Korea.
> “This is madness too. Why should Koreans give their lives in a war against Ukraine? Kim Jong Un uses them like currency. And he gets something in return,” Zelenskiy said, criticizing North Korea’s military involvement.
## North Korean Troop Deployments in Kursk
According to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates cited by Reuters, North Korea has deployed approximately 14,000 to 15,000 soldiers to support Russian forces since 2024. Most of these troops have operated in the Russian border region of Kursk, aiding Moscow’s efforts to repel Ukrainian military incursions.
Independent and Ukrainian assessments also indicate that Pyongyang has supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, alongside ballistic missiles, long-range artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems to sustain the war effort.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### When were the North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine?
Ukrainian forces captured the two North Korean soldiers in January 2025 during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, according to reports from Reuters and Deutsche Welle.
### Where have the captured soldiers been sent?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that the two prisoners of war were transferred to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
### How many North Korean troops are fighting for Russia?
Ukrainian and South Korean estimates indicate that North Korea has deployed between 14,000 and 15,000 soldiers to support Russian military operations since 2024.
### What has South Korea’s official stance been on North Korean POWs?
South Korea announced that it would accept all North Korean prisoners of war who fought for Russia and opposed sending them back to Russia or North Korea.
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