Ukraine Hands Over Two North Korean POWs Captured Alive to South Korea

Ukraine has handed over two North Korean soldiers captured alive in the Kursk region in January 2025 to South Korea. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his address at the United Nations General Assembly. According to the President, these two POWs were not easily captured, with one attempting suicide upon realizing he was about to be taken prisoner. President Zelensky also expressed a desire to hand over the POWs to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and showed willingness to negotiate an exchange of North Korean POWs for Ukrainian POWs currently detained by Russia. However, human rights groups have strongly urged their handover to South Korea, citing the severe risk of torture if they were returned to North Korea. South Korean media reported that the two individuals had expressed a desire to defect to South Korea. Opposition lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum stated, according to Yonhap News Agency, that the two left Ukraine last weekend, traveled through a third country, and arrived in Seoul two or three days ago. While their exact whereabouts are unknown, it is believed they are under the protection of intelligence agencies. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it could not confirm details at this time to protect their safety and that of their families. South Korea had announced in June its willingness to accept North Korean soldiers fighting with Russia who did not wish to be repatriated to North Korea or sent back to Russia.