Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Sent POWs to Seoul

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2026, that Ukraine had recently sent two North Korean war prisoners to the Republic of Korea. He said they were not easy to capture, that one attempted to take his own life when he realized he was going to be captured, and that the soldier was shocked fate did not allow him to die. Zelenskyy said North Korea robs its people of freedom and the right to choose, called Pyongyang scenes honoring the fallen madness, and said Kim Jong Un uses the troops like currency to gain something in return. He said countries across Asia have likely noticed North Korea’s enhanced ballistic missiles and improved drone capabilities, asked why North Korean people should sacrifice their lives in a war with Ukraine, and said the unchecked war Russia has not faced consequences for continues to spread evil. The soldiers were reportedly captured in Russia’s Kursk region. Aju Press placed the capture in January 2026; SBS placed it in January 2025. They had sent handwritten letters to North Korean defector organizations expressing intent to defect to South Korea. At their July 8 summit in Ankara, Zelenskyy and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung discussed the issue; Kang Yu-jung said the leaders agreed to resolve it respecting the individuals’ free will under international law and humanitarian principles.