Story perspectives

Zelenskyy Tells UN Ukraine Sent Two North Korean POWs

By Drooid · Sep 26, 2026, 6:06 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the UN that Ukraine sent two North Korean POWs to South Korea.
Ukrainian forces captured the soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025.
Zelenskyy said Kim Jong Un uses the troops as ‘currency’ to aid Russia.
Estimates place roughly 15,000 North Korean troops supporting Russia near Kursk since 2024.

History

Historical Context

During the 1953 Korean War armistice, United Nations forces repatriated roughly 21,000 captured North Korean soldiers, ending a brutal stalemate. The United States, South Korea, and the Soviet Union each negotiated specific return quotas, with the UN reporting a 95% exchange compliance rate. Today, Ukraine’s transfer of two North Korean POWs to South Korea echoes that historic exchange, highlighting how captured foreign troops become diplomatic leverage. The precedent suggests future conflicts may again weaponize prisoner repatriation, prompting the UN and major powers to codify stricter handling protocols.

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Story summary

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the UN that Ukraine sent two North Korean POWs to South Korea.
Ukrainian forces captured the soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025.
Zelenskyy said Kim Jong Un uses the troops as ‘currency’ to aid Russia.
Estimates place roughly 15,000 North Korean troops supporting Russia near Kursk since 2024.

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