Ministry of Foreign Affairs to swiftly push for the transfer to South Korea of North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would move quickly to facilitate the transfer to South Korea of two North Korean prisoners of war detained in Ukraine. The government is proceeding with defection procedures based on the individuals' own free will, and it is reported that a basic agreement with the Ukrainian side has also been reached to a significant extent. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects related discussions to make progress during talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on the occasion of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha's visit to South Korea on the 30th. These prisoners were deployed to the Kursk region of Russia and were captured by Ukrainian forces last year, and they have repeatedly stated their intention to go to South Korea. The government has been working to block their repatriation to North Korea and Russia and to facilitate their transfer to South Korea, considering their safety and the principles of international law. Diplomatic sources suggest that the practical and legal procedures may be in the final stages, and there are also 전망s that final adjustments could be made at the meeting on the 30th.