Ukraine transfers two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, Zelensky confirms amid Kyiv missile strikes

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026.

The damaged facade of a maternity hospital in Kyiv, where one of two people killed in an overnight Russian ballistic missile and drone barrage died in the building's car park.

One of the two North Korean prisoners of war transferred to South Korea tried to kill himself when he realised he was about to be captured, Zelensky confirmed on Wednesday. Ukraine seized the pair in Russia's Kursk region in January last year — the first North Koreans taken alive since Pyongyang entered the war. South Korean opposition lawmaker Yu Yong-weon said the soldiers arrived in South Korea three to four days ago after transiting through a third country.

Ukraine had originally offered to return the soldiers to Kim Jong Un in exchange for Ukrainian captives held in Russia.

Human rights groups pushed for the transfer to South Korea, warning the men faced severe punishment if repatriated to North Korea.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry declined to confirm the transfer, saying it needed to safeguard the soldiers and their families.

The IndependentTwo North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine sent to South Korea, Zelensky says Yahoo News UKUkraine sent two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, Zelenskiy says NY PostUkraine sent 2 North Korean soldiers captured in Russia to South Korea, Zelensky says APZelenskyy says Ukraine sent 2 North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea ReutersKyiv under Russian missile attack, two dead, six injured, mayor says ReutersRussia pounds Kyiv with drone strikes as Zelenskiy addresses the UN The IndependentUkraine-Russia war latest: Nato jets scrambled in Poland and Romania as Putin hammers Kyiv ReutersUkraine sent two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, Zelenskiy says

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