South Korea and Ukraine Agree on North Korean POW Status

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reached an agreement on March 27 in France to resolve the status of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025. The soldiers were detained while fighting for Russia, and the bilateral talks occurred on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers' meeting.

Cho confirmed that Ukraine has assured the soldiers will not be repatriated to Russia or North Korea. South Korea expressed willingness to receive the prisoners, as reports indicate the soldiers wish to relocate to South Korea rather than return home. The two ministers agreed to handle the situation based on international law and humanitarian principles.

Simultaneously, the Federal Government of Russia has included these two North Korean soldiers on its list of prisoners requested for release in a POW exchange, creating a competing claim for their disposition.