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| 2026-09-24 10:51:15
(ATTN: UPDATES with details throughout; RECASTS lead)
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Ukraine has recently sent two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces to South Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, with Seoul effectively confirming the move.
Seoul's foreign ministry did not deny Zelenskyy's remarks but declined to confirm details.
"Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea," Zelenskyy said during his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (U.S. time), referring to South Korea by its official name.
"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 didn't let him die."
Two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 after being deployed to Russia's Kursk region in support of Moscow's war against Ukraine.
They have expressed their desire to come to South Korea through a North Korean defector group in the South.
South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm details but noted that it has maintained the position to respect their "free will" and resolve the issue in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.
"It is difficult to confirm whether the individuals have been handled, the timing and route, or the specific details about the consultations between the two countries," a foreign ministry official said, citing the issue of their safety.
The official said that necessary talks have taken place with relevant countries and agencies, including Ukraine, in accordance with the government's position.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Zelenskyy agreed to handle North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine on humanitarian grounds while respecting their wishes during their summit in July on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara.
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