Key facts
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to handle North Korean POWs in Ukraine on humanitarian grounds.
- The agreement respects the wishes of the captured North Korean soldiers.
- Two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in early 2025.
- The soldiers were reportedly deployed to Russia's Kursk region.
- The leaders met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
- South Korea pledged $100 million in assistance to Ukraine.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have agreed to handle North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine on humanitarian grounds, respecting their wishes. The agreement was reached during a summit held on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara, according to Lee's spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.
Two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in early 2025 after being deployed to Russia's Kursk region in support of Moscow. They have reportedly expressed their desire to come to South Korea.
"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," Kang stated.
The bilateral summit occurred as Lee attended the NATO summit as the leader of a partner country, while Zelenskyy was present to advocate for Ukraine's NATO membership amid the ongoing war with Russia, now in its fifth year. South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac previously announced that Seoul pledged $100 million in assistance to Ukraine during Lee's attendance at the NATO summit, demonstrating its commitment to international peace and security.