South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed on July 8 to handle North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine on humanitarian grounds while respecting their wishes.
The two leaders reached the agreement during their bilateral summit held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. Lee's spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said, "The two leaders agreed that the issue of North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine will be addressed in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles while respecting their wishes."
Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers in early 2025 after they were deployed to Russia's Kursk region in support of Moscow. The soldiers have reportedly expressed a desire to come to South Korea. Kang explained the principle of non-refoulement under international law.
Lee explained South Korea's pledge of US$100 million in assistance to Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude and voiced hope to end the war early through international cooperation, including with South Korea.
