S. Korean gov't effectively confirms repatriation of N. Korean POWs from Ukraine

The South Korean government effectively confirmed the repatriation of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces on Thursday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said they had been sent to South Korea. The Foreign Ministry said Seoul had held consultations with Ukraine and other relevant countries and institutions while maintaining that the issue should respect the prisoners’ free will and international law. The ministry did not deny the transfer or give details on timing, route, or the talks. The two soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January last year and later said they wanted to defect to South Korea.

The Foreign Ministry said Seoul had conducted necessary communication and consultations with Ukraine and other relevant countries and institutions.

The ministry declined to say whether the transfer involved individual prisoners or to disclose the timing, route, or specific contents of the bilateral discussions.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January last year.

The soldiers later expressed their desire to defect to South Korea in media interviews and handwritten letters delivered to organizations representing North Korean defectors.

Published Sep 24, 2026 10:44 am KST

Updated Sep 24, 2026 11:37 am KST

A North Korean sniper and reconnaissance officer, left, and a rifleman, captured by Ukrainian forces, receive medical treatment at an undisclosed location in Kyiv, Ukraine. Screenshots from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's X account

The government effectively confirmed the repatriation of North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces, Thursday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that two prisoners of war (POWs) had been sent to South Korea.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Seoul has consistently maintained that the issue should be resolved in a manner that respects the prisoners' free will and complies with international law and humanitarian principles.

"Based on this position, we have conducted necessary communication and consultations with Ukraine as well as other relevant countries and institutions," a ministry official was quoted by news reports as saying.

The ministry did not issue an explicit denial of Zelenskyy's disclosure, effectively confirming that Seoul has been involved in discussions over their transfer.

The ministry also declined to provide details about whether individual prisoners had been transferred, or about the timing, route or specific contents of bilateral discussions, citing the sensitive nature of the matter.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in January last year. They subsequently expressed their desire to defect to South Korea in media interviews and handwritten letters delivered to organizations representing North Korean defectors.

周四，乌克兰总统泽连斯基宣布两名被乌克兰军队俘虏的朝鲜士兵已被送往韩国后，韩国政府实际上证实了这两名士兵已被遣返回国。韩国外交部表示，首尔方面已与乌克兰及其他相关国家和机构进行了磋商，并强调此事应尊重被俘人员的自由意志和国际法。外交部并未否认移交一事，也未透露移交时间、路线或磋商细节。这两名士兵去年1月在俄罗斯库尔斯克边疆区被俘，之后表示希望叛逃至韩国。

外交部表示，首尔已与乌克兰及其他相关国家和机构进行了必要的沟通和磋商。

该部拒绝透露此次移交是否涉及个别囚犯，也拒绝透露双边会谈的时间、路线或具体内容。

去年1月，两名朝鲜士兵在俄罗斯库尔斯克地区被乌克兰军队俘虏。

这些士兵后来在媒体采访中以及写给代表朝鲜脱北者的组织的亲笔信中表达了他们想要叛逃到韩国的愿望。

发布于2026年9月24日上午10:44（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月24日上午11:37（韩国标准时间）

一名朝鲜狙击手兼侦察兵（左）和一名步枪兵被乌克兰军队俘虏，在乌克兰基辅一处秘密地点接受治疗。图片来自乌克兰总统泽连斯基的X账号。

周四，乌克兰总统泽连斯基透露两名战俘已被送往韩国，此后，乌克兰政府实际上证实了被乌克兰军队俘虏的朝鲜士兵已被遣返回国。

韩国外交部表示，首尔方面一直坚持认为，该问题应以尊重囚犯自由意志并符合国际法和人道主义原则的方式解决。

据新闻报道，一位部委官员表示：“基于这一立场，我们已与乌克兰以及其他相关国家和机构进行了必要的沟通和磋商。”

国防部没有明确否认泽连斯基的爆料，实际上证实了首尔方面参与了有关人员转移的讨论。

该部还以事关敏感为由，拒绝透露是否有个别囚犯被转移，以及双边会谈的时间、路线或具体内容。

去年1月，两名朝鲜士兵在俄罗斯库尔斯克地区被乌克兰军队俘虏。随后，他们在接受媒体采访和向朝鲜脱北者代表组织递交亲笔信时，表达了希望叛逃到韩国的意愿。