2 N. Korean POWs arrive in S. Korea after 20 months of captivity in Ukraine

Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces nearly 20 months ago have arrived safely in South Korea, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and PPP lawmaker Rep. Yu Yong-weon. The transfer had been kept secret over safety concerns, and the soldiers are expected to be protected under South Korean laws for North Korean defectors. Their health is reportedly stable, and the National Intelligence Service is expected to question them for weeks or months. The South Korean government has not formally confirmed the transfer.

Zelenskyy said during a U.N. General Assembly speech in New York that Ukraine recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

The two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January last year after being deployed there as part of North Korea’s military support for Russia.

Rep. Yu Yong-weon said the two people arrived safely in Korea a few days ago and that the transfer had remained secret because of safety concerns.

The National Intelligence Service is expected to question and investigate them for several weeks or months before deciding on longer-term protection arrangements.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Seoul had maintained that POW issues should be resolved by respecting the individuals’ free will and in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.

Published Sep 24, 2026 10:44 am KST

Updated Sep 24, 2026 4:18 pm 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

Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces nearly 20 months ago have arrived safely in South Korea, the president of Ukraine and an opposition lawmaker said Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the disclosure during a speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Wednesday (local time). “Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea,” Zelenskyy said.

Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) also confirmed the transfer that had remained in secrecy over concerns for the safety of the prisoners and their families.

“The two people arrived safely in Korea a few days ago,” Yu said during a press conference at the National Assembly. He has repeatedly raised the issue of North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine.

The two soldiers are now expected to receive protection under South Korean laws concerning North Korean defectors. Their health is reportedly stable. The National Intelligence Service is expected to conduct questioning and investigations over several weeks or months before determining their longer-term protection arrangements.

Authorities are also expected to keep their whereabouts and movements confidential to protect both the former soldiers and relatives still in North Korea.

The South Korean government has not formally confirmed the transfer, citing security concerns.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier in the day that Seoul had maintained the position that the issues concerning prisoners of war (POWs) should be resolved by respecting the individuals’ free will and in accordance 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 said.

The two POWs were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January last year after being deployed there as part of North Korea’s military support for Russia.

Their capture was initially made public after Zelenskyy released images of the prisoners. He later said one of the soldiers had suffered serious injuries after attempting suicide when faced with capture.

The two subsequently expressed a desire to come to South Korea through media interviews and handwritten letters delivered to organizations representing North Korean defectors.

President Lee Jae Myung and Zelenskyy discussed the issue during their summit in July. The two leaders agreed that the matter should be resolved while respecting the prisoners’ free will and in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the PPP also commented on the arrival, criticizing Lee for not making it public.

“Why did Lee hide it?” Ahn said on a Facebook post. "Was the government planning to send the prisoners back to North Korea had President Zelenskyy not disclosed it?"

He also questioned whether Lee was being “blackmailed by North Korea” over a trial related to alleged remittances to the North.

据乌克兰总统泽连斯基和人民进步党议员俞永元透露，两名近20个月前被乌克兰军队俘虏的朝鲜士兵已安全抵达韩国。出于安全考虑，此次移交一直保密，预计这两名士兵将根据韩国关于朝鲜脱北者的法律受到保护。据报道，他们的健康状况稳定，韩国国家情报院预计将对他们进行数周或数月的讯问。韩国政府尚未正式确认此次移交。

泽连斯基在纽约联合国大会上发表讲话时表示，乌克兰最近向韩国送去了两名朝鲜战俘。

去年1月，这两名士兵在俄罗斯库尔斯克地区被乌克兰军队俘虏。此前，他们作为朝鲜对俄罗斯军事支持的一部分被部署到该地区。

韩国众议员俞永元表示，这两人几天前已安全抵达韩国，由于安全原因，此次移交一直保密。

预计国家情报局将对他们进行数周或数月的讯问和调查，然后再决定更长期的保护安排。

外交部表示，首尔方面一直坚持认为，战俘问题应该在尊重个人自由意志的前提下，按照国际法和人道主义原则来解决。

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日下午4:18（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。

乌克兰总统和一名反对派议员周四表示，两名近20个月前被乌克兰军队俘虏的朝鲜士兵已安全抵达韩国。

乌克兰总统泽连斯基周三（当地时间）在纽约联合国大会上发表讲话时透露了这一消息。泽连斯基说：“最近，我们向韩国遣返了两名朝鲜战俘。”

主要反对党国民力量党议员俞永元也证实了此次移交，此前由于担心囚犯及其家人的安全，移交一直处于保密状态。

俞明希在国会举行的新闻发布会上表示：“这两名战俘几天前已安全抵达韩国。”他曾多次提出在乌克兰被俘的朝鲜战俘问题。

根据韩国有关朝鲜脱北者的法律，这两名士兵预计将获得保护。据报道，他们的健康状况稳定。韩国国家情报院预计将对他们进行数周或数月的讯问和调查，以确定他们的长期保护安排。

当局预计还将对他们的下落和行踪保密，以保护仍在朝鲜的前士兵及其亲属。

韩国政府以安全为由，尚未正式确认此次转让。

外交部当天早些时候表示，首尔方面一直坚持认为，战俘问题应该在尊重个人自由意志的前提下，按照国际法和人道主义原则来解决。

“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，”一位部委官员表示。

去年1月，这两名战俘在俄罗斯库尔斯克地区被乌克兰军队俘虏。此前，他们作为朝鲜对俄罗斯军事支持的一部分被部署到那里。

泽连斯基公布了俘虏的照片后，他们的被捕消息才得以公开。他后来表示，其中一名士兵在被捕时试图自杀，身受重伤。

随后，两人通过媒体采访和亲笔信向代表朝鲜脱北者的组织表达了来韩国的愿望。

李在明总统和泽连斯基总统在7月的峰会上讨论了这一问题。两位领导人一致认为，应在尊重囚犯自由意志的前提下，并依据国际法和人道主义原则解决这一问题。

人民进步党议员安哲洙也对此事发表了评论，批评李某没有公开此事。

“李为什么要隐瞒这件事？”安在脸书上发帖问道，“如果泽连斯基总统没有公开此事，政府是不是打算把这些囚犯遣返回朝鲜？”

他还质疑李某是否因涉嫌向朝鲜汇款而受到朝鲜的“勒索”。