South Korea Says Ukraine First Requested Secrecy Over North Korean POW Transfer

South Korean officials say Ukraine initially requested that the transfer of captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea be kept secret, according to Anadolu Agency. The transfer itself was later disclosed publicly by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his address to the United Nations last week.

North Korean troops have fought alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, and Ukrainian forces have captured a number of North Korean soldiers during the fighting. The handling of these prisoners has raised complex questions involving Ukraine, South Korea and North Korea, given Seoul's interest in North Korean nationals and Pyongyang's involvement in the conflict on Russia's side.

From Secrecy to Public Disclosure

According to South Korean officials, the initial preference for confidentiality around the transfer came from the Ukrainian side, though Zelenskyy's UN address ultimately brought the matter into public view. The shift from a quiet arrangement to a publicly acknowledged transfer reflects the sensitivity of an issue that touches on Seoul's own policy toward North Korean defectors and prisoners of war.

Anadolu Agency's report did not detail the specific reasoning behind Ukraine's original request for secrecy, nor the exact number of North Korean soldiers involved in the transfer.

The episode adds a new dimension to the broader story of North Korea's military involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, which has drawn significant international attention since it first came to light.