Transfer of North Korean POWs to South Korea Amid Diplomatic Tensions

• •Two North Korean soldiers were transferred to South Korea after being captured in Ukraine.
• •The transfer was publicly disclosed by Zelenskyy, causing diplomatic tensions with South Korea.
• •The soldiers had expressed a desire to defect to South Korea after nearly 20 months of captivity.

Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces have been transferred to South Korea, as confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2026. The soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the ongoing war against Ukraine. They expressed a desire to defect to South Korea after nearly 20 months of captivity. The South Korean government has not officially confirmed their arrival, citing security concerns for the soldiers and their families. The disclosure of the transfer has led to criticism from South Korean opposition lawmakers, who questioned the government's handling of the situation. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed disappointment over the public announcement, which breached a confidentiality agreement with Ukraine. The soldiers are expected to receive protection under South Korean laws for defectors, and their whereabouts will be kept confidential for their safety.