Ukraine transferred two North Korean soldiers captured in the Kursk region to South Korea

Ukraine transferred to South Korea two North Korean soldiers who were captured alive in the Kursk region in January 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Wednesday in a speech delivered at the UN General Assembly. The two soldiers arrived in South Korea after transiting through a third country, according to a South Korean lawmaker.

The soldiers were the first North Korean military personnel captured alive after Pyongyang became involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy said that one of them had allegedly attempted suicide when he realized he was about to be captured.

The two reportedly expressed a desire to remain in South Korea, while human rights organizations warned that repatriating them to North Korea could expose them to reprisals. Seoul has not officially confirmed the transfer, citing security reasons for the soldiers and their families.

In his UN speech, Zelenskyy accused North Korea of sending its soldiers to fight for Russia in exchange for benefits. Ukrainian and South Korean estimates indicate that Pyongyang may have sent approximately 14,000–15,000 military personnel to Russia, as well as ammunition and missiles.