Seoul: South Korea and Ukraine reached a consensus on Tuesday to address the situation of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured in Ukraine, adhering to international law and humanitarian principles, as announced by Seoul's foreign ministry. This agreement was reached during a meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in early 2025 after being deployed to support Russia in the Kursk region. These soldiers have expressed a desire to relocate to South Korea. The meeting between the ministers emphasized resolving the POW issue in alignment with international law, considering the free will of the individuals involved. The discussions also covered broader topics, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and regional developments affecting the Korean Peninsula.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il highlighted the "constructive discussions" between the two countries on the POW situation, reiterating South Korea's diplomatic commitment to resolving the matter. The South Korean government considers North Korean soldiers as South Korean nationals and is open to accepting any POWs who wish to relocate to South Korea.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has stated it will not forcibly repatriate North Korean POWs, though final decisions are still pending as Kyiv considers the broader implications of POW treatment from various countries. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha, in a social media post, affirmed the detailed discussions on North Korean POWs and the plan to proceed in accordance with international humanitarian law. He also pointed out the global ramifications of Russia's military actions in Ukraine, particularly its cooperation with North Korea.
During his visit to South Korea, Sybiha visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), highlighting the importance of enhanced cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine in countering threats from North Korea and Russia. He emphasized that the collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow is contributing to instability on the Korean Peninsula and expressed Ukraine's readiness to engage in a security partnership with South Korea.
This visit marked the first by a Ukrainian foreign minister to South Korea since 2015, though both ministers had previously met in France on the sidelines of a Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting in March. The discussions also explored opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and expand economic and business ties, according to the ministry.