Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces have been sent to South Korea.
According to Yonhap News on September 23, Zelensky stated during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, "We recently sent two North Korean war prisoners to the Republic of Korea."
He added, "They were not easy to capture. One of them attempted to take his own life when he realized he was going to be captured, and he was shocked that fate did not allow him to die."
Zelensky criticized the way North Korea raises its people, saying, "It robs them of their freedom and the right to choose. You may have seen scenes broadcast from Pyongyang honoring the fallen; this is also madness."
He further stated, "Kim Jong Un uses them like currency to gain something in return, and countries across Asia have likely noticed North Korea's enhanced ballistic missile and significantly improved drone capabilities."
Zelensky reiterated, "You may have seen scenes broadcast from Pyongyang honoring the fallen; this is also madness."
He remarked that the North Korean leader has sent his troops to support the vulnerabilities of the Russian military, resulting in significant losses for the North Korean forces. He noted, "We failed to stop it in time, and the unchecked war that Russia has not faced consequences for continues to spread evil."
The two North Korean soldiers were reportedly captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2026 in the Kursk region of Russia. Their existence became known when Zelensky revealed their capture on social media, and they had expressed their intention to defect to South Korea through handwritten letters sent to North Korean defector groups.
Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung held his first summit with Zelensky on July 8 during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where they discussed the issue of North Korean prisoners.
At that time, Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated, "The two leaders agreed to resolve the issue of North Korean prisoners in Ukraine in a manner that respects the free will of the individuals, in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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