Ukraine transfers two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, Zelensky says

Ukraine said it has transferred two North Korean prisoners of war, seized in Russia's Kursk region in January 2023, to the Republic of Korea, President Volodymyr Zelensky told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. > "Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea," Zelensky said. He added that one of the captives attempted suicide when he realized he would be taken prisoner, but survived. The two soldiers were the first North Koreans captured alive since their country joined the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2024. Human-rights groups had urged that they be sent to South Korea rather than repatriated to North Korea, citing concerns over possible punishment. South Korean officials declined to confirm details of the handover, citing security considerations for the soldiers and their families. South Korea has previously said it would accept all North Korean prisoners of war who fought for Russia and opposes their return to either Russia or North Korea. Zelensky also condemned North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia, describing it as "madness" and saying the leader uses the soldiers "like currency." Estimates put the number of North Korean fighters in Ukraine at 14,000 to 15,000, mainly deployed in the Kursk area, while North Korea has also supplied Russia with large quantities of artillery, missiles and rocket systems.