Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced to the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. This disclosure came after months of discussions between Kyiv and Seoul, following the capture of the soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. The two North Korean soldiers were among thousands of troops sent by Pyongyang to support Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine. Zelenskyy described the soldiers as having been difficult to capture, noting that one had attempted suicide upon realizing he was about to be taken prisoner. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry did not directly confirm the transfer but stated that it had been in discussions with Ukraine and other relevant parties to handle the situation in a way that respects the soldiers’ wishes and adheres to international law and humanitarian standards. The ministry emphasized that it would not provide details about the soldiers’ current location, the timeline or route of their transfer, or specifics of the consultations with Ukraine, citing the sensitivity of the matter and the need to protect the soldiers and their families. North Korea has been a key military ally of Russia in the war, supplying weapons such as artillery shells and ballistic missiles. In return, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sought to strengthen his country’s military capabilities, including its nuclear program, and has aligned more closely with Moscow and Beijing in a broader geopolitical stance against the United States. Concerns have been raised by South Korea, the U.S., and other allies that Russia may be sharing advanced military technology with North Korea, which could significantly boost Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs. Following the capture of the two soldiers in Kursk, South Korea expressed concerns that returning them to North Korea could expose them to persecution and offered them the option to resettle in the South. Some media reports suggested the soldiers expressed a desire to go to South Korea. In April 2025, North Korea and Russia confirmed that their forces had fought together to repel a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. However, the exact number of North Korean troops deployed remains unclear, with South Korean intelligence estimating that around 15,000 North Korean soldiers had been sent to Russia since October 2024, with approximately 2,000 of them killed in combat.