Ukraine seeks dialogue with Seoul over captured North Korean troops
The Ambassador of Ukraine to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, has expressed Kyiv's willingness to hand over North Korean soldiers, captured in the Kursk region, to Seoul.
In an interview with "The Korea Times," Dmytro Ponomarenko, the Ambassador of Ukraine to South Korea, stated that Ukraine is prepared to transfer North Korean soldiers who were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Russian Kursk region to South Korea.
Given the threat to the life and freedom of North Korean servicemen in the event of their repatriation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and if they refuse to go back, we are open for a dialogue with international partners, in particular the Republic of Korea, regarding the possibilities of their transfer to third countries — stated Ponomarenko.
The Ambassador emphasised that while formal negotiations with Seoul have not yet commenced, Ukraine is ready to facilitate the transfer of the prisoners to South Korea. However, he noted that should the soldiers wish to return to their home country, Ukraine would be obliged to repatriate them in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
Losses of North Korean soldiers
Ponomarenko confirmed that the North Korean military has sustained substantial losses, reporting approximately 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured thus far.
Regardless of the number and quality of North Korean troops, they are an additional problem for our defenders, adding to their work and distracting them from destroying the Russian aggressors - summarised Ponomarenko.
The Ambassador did not dismiss the possibility that Pyongyang might dispatch more troops to support Moscow. Media reports have indicated that since mid-January, North Korean soldiers have not taken part in the front-line battles in the Kursk region in Russia. Their withdrawal may be linked to significant personnel losses, as reported by South Korean intelligence. Nevertheless, sources do not rule out the possibility of soldiers returning following further training or the development of new deployment strategies.
Ukrainian forces have been engaged in the Kursk region in western Russia since August 2024. These operations aim, among other objectives, to redirect Russian forces from attacking the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Seoul authorities report that Kim Jong Un dispatched over 10,000 soldiers to Russia in exchange for technical assistance in weapons and satellite programmes, which are subject to strict sanctions.
