Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, following months of sensitive diplomatic consultations. The soldiers, captured in Russia’s Kursk region, were among thousands deployed to support Moscow’s war effort, a deployment that has deepened security ties between Pyongyang and Russia.
The transfer of the two prisoners marks a significant development in the intersection of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and East Asian geopolitics. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the repatriation during an address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2026, at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, stating simply, Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea.
The soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January last year. They were the first North Korean soldiers to be apprehended alive since the country entered the Russia-Ukraine war in 2024.
Ukraine sent two captured North Korean soldiers to South
Capture, Defection Desires, and Medical Realities
Capturing North Korean combatants alive has proved exceptionally difficult. Zelenskyy noted in his UN address, These guys are not easy to capture alive. One of them, when he realized he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself. And he was shocked that fate did not let him die.
A North Korean soldier captured by Ukrainian forces last year was seen with his entire face wrapped in bandages. At the time, Ukrainian authorities did not disclose the exact cause of the injuries, but Ukrainian medical staff have since testified that he suffered severe injuries to his jaw after refusing to surrender and attempting suicide. North Korea-focused media outlet NK News reported on a documentary containing the testimony of the Ukrainian military medical staff. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in January last year that Ukrainian forces had captured two North Korean soldiers in the Russian region of Kursk. Among them, a North Korean sniper reportedly born in 1999 had sustained a major injury to his jaw area and had his face wrapped in bandages.
Ukraine transfers captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea
Seoul’s Diplomatic Stance and Regional Stakes
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry did not directly confirm Zelenskyy’s comments but said it had been consulting with Kyiv and other relevant parties to resolve the matter in a manner that respects the soldiers’ free will and complies with international law and humanitarian principles. The government effectively confirmed the repatriation of North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces on Thursday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that two prisoners of war (POWs) had been sent to South Korea.
The ministry said in a statement that it would not confirm details about the soldiers’ disposition, the timing or route of their transfer or specific contents of consultations
with Ukraine, calling it a sensitive matter concerning the safety of the soldiers and their families. A ministry official stated, Based on this position, we have conducted necessary communication and consultations with Ukraine as well as other relevant countries and institutions.
North Korea and US show signs of resuming dialogue
The transfer highlights the broader transactional nature of the alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused North Korean leader Kim Jong Un of using soldiers as “currency” to secure more advanced military equipment for his country amid the Russia-Ukraine war, addressing the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (September 23) and questioning why North Korean soldiers should give their lives in a war against Ukraine.
Weapons Transfers and Escalating Military Partnership
Russia’s expanding military partnership with North Korea has become one of the most significant proliferation risks of the Ukraine war. Since Pyongyang began actively supporting Russia’s campaign, Moscow is believed to have transferred sensitive technologies such as naval reactors for nuclear-powered submarines, air defense systems, and other advanced capabilities in exchange for North Korean weapons and troops. Russia has already provided drone technology to Pyongyang, and the rapid evolution of Russian battlefield innovations now raises concerns that North Korea could, in time, gain access to far more sophisticated systems, including new versions of autonomous AI-enabled and jet-powered drones. In a war that began as an artillery-heavy conflict, drone usage and tactics have evolved rapidly, with one of the most consequential developments being Russia’s experimentation.
As Seoul integrates the transferred individuals, questions remain regarding how future captured combatants will be handled if frontline deployments continue. While South Korea’s foreign ministry navigates these delicate security protocols, the broader implications of North Korea’s integration into European battlefields continue to reshape security dynamics across both the Korean Peninsula and Eastern Europe.