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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky transferred two North Korean soldiers captured in the Russian region of Kursk to South Korea, according to a report by nrc.nl. The soldiers were taken prisoner in January 2025 while fighting alongside Russian forces and expressed a desire to be sent to Seoul.
Seoul demands apology over violated confidentiality agreement
The handover has sparked a sharp diplomatic dispute between Kyiv and Seoul. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that Zelensky violated an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Zelensky denied that any secrecy pact existed, while Lee demanded an apology and threatened unspecified measures against Kyiv if none is given.
Opposition figures in South Korea have also weighed in on the diplomatic friction. Jang Dong-hyeok, a conservative opposition leader, claimed that the only reason to conceal the transfer would be to avoid provoking North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Captured North Korean soldier regrets failing to blow himself up
Western intelligence agencies estimate that North Korea has deployed between 12,000 and 15,000 troops to Russia. Approximately 6,000 to 7,000 of those soldiers have reportedly been killed or wounded.
North Korean military personnel operate under strict instructions forbidding capture. “Being captured is betrayal,” one of the two captured soldiers stated in January during an interview from Ukrainian detention with a South Korean news broadcaster. “Other soldiers blew themselves up so they wouldn’t be arrested, but I wasn’t given the chance. I will be torn by regret for the rest of my life that I couldn’t die.”
Motivations Behind the Secret Handover
South Korean media reports suggest Zelensky initially attempted to keep the transfer hidden to avoid complicating a broader prisoner exchange with Russia aimed at freeing thousands of Ukrainian troops. Kyiv reportedly anticipated that handing over the two North Korean soldiers would secure increased military support from South Korea, including air defense systems. When that support did not materialize, Zelensky publicly disclosed the transfer.
Remco Breuker, professor of Korean studies at Leiden University, notes that South Korea’s stance toward Ukraine may be shifting. President Lee has expressed interest in utilizing the Arctic shipping route—which connects Asia to Europe via the Northern Sea Route—to support the nation’s major shipbuilding industry. Because the majority of this shipping path runs near Russia, maintaining a hostile stance complicates maritime operations, leading analysts to suggest a potential recalibration of Seoul’s foreign policy.
Questions Regarding the North Korean Soldiers
Why did the two captured soldiers request transfer to South Korea?
The soldiers made it known they wished to be sent to Seoul after being captured in January 2025 during fighting in the Kursk region.
How many North Korean troops remain deployed in Russia?
Intelligence agencies estimate that out of 12,000 to 15,000 initially deployed soldiers, roughly 6,000 to 7,000 have been killed or wounded.
What specific support did Kyiv expect from Seoul?
Kyiv reportedly counted on receiving items such as air defense systems in exchange for transferring the two prisoners.
Analyst hopes diplomatic escalation remains runaway argument
„Lee is really on the warpath,” Breuker stated regarding the diplomatic escalation. „I really hope this is just a runaway argument where everyone does stupid things.”