Ukraine sent two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, Zelenskiy says

Key Points:

• Ukraine has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced at the UN General Assembly, marking the first capture of North Korean soldiers since they joined the Russia-Ukraine war in 2024.
• The two North Korean soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk region in January last year, with Zelenskiy previously stating he would return them to North Korea only if it facilitated a prisoner exchange for Ukrainians held in Russia.
• Human rights groups urged Ukraine to send the soldiers to South Korea due to risks of punishment in North Korea, and South Korean media reported the prisoners wished to defect to South Korea.
• South Korea confirmed it would accept all North Korean POWs who fought for Russia and opposed repatriation to Russia or North Korea, but has not confirmed details about the recent transfer citing safety concerns.
• Zelenskiy condemned North Korea for deploying 14,000-15,000 troops to support Russia, accusing Kim Jong Un of using soldiers as "currency," while North Korea has also supplied Russia with significant military equipment.