Ukraine Sends Captured North Korean Soldiers to South Korea in January 2025
Ukraine transferred two captured North Korean soldiers fighting on the Russian side to South Korea in January 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during an address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The two individuals had been captured in Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.
Following their capture, both soldiers expressed a desire to move to South Korea. The South Korean government subsequently pressured Kyiv to facilitate their transfer out of concern that repatriation to Pyongyang would result in severe reprisals against them and their families.
Seoul Demands Official Apology Over Disclosed Transfer Agreement
President Lee criticized the Ukrainian leadership for publicly disclosing the transfer agreement, arguing that confidentiality was vital to protect the relatives of the prisoners of war. Seula later demanded an official apology from Ukraine, pointing out that both governments had reached a clear understanding regarding the confidentiality of the handover during prior consultations.
“If Ukraine continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and publicly apologize, we will take further measures,” President Lee stated, accusing Kyiv of painting him as a liar. Lee also wrote on the platform X that the matter touches upon the dignity of the Republic of Korea and its citizens and cannot be ignored.
Diplomatic Misunderstanding Described by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiha
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiha described the dispute in a media interview as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” rather than an incident, expressing strong hope for future cooperation and concrete results with Seoul. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president’s office told the South Korean news agency Yonhap that Kyiv had merely revealed the fact of the transfer rather than the specific details, adding that keeping the entire procedure secret would be strange.
The senior public relations advisor to the South Korean president, Song Gi Hong, stated that Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and subsequent denial of a non-disclosure agreement severely undermines trust between the two governments. Seoul maintains that it has delivered humanitarian and other aid to Kyiv and joined international sanctions against Russia, while so far avoiding direct military assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions About the North Korean POW Transfer
Where and when were the North Korean soldiers captured?
Ukrainian forces captured the two North Korean soldiers in January 2025 within Russia’s Kursk region after Pyongyang deployed troops to support Russian military operations.
Why did the soldiers refuse to return to North Korea?
While still in Ukraine, the captured soldiers expressed a wish to settle in South Korea rather than return to North Korea, where defectors and their families face retaliation.
How many defectors has South Korea received historically?
More than 34,000 people have fled from North Korea to the South since the end of the Korean War in 1953, with the vast majority arriving over the past three decades, though military defections remain extremely rare.
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