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Ukraine does not view the issue of captured North Korean soldiers as a matter for negotiations or exchange. Instead, it considers it an issue that must be addressed in strict accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.
This was stated by Ukrainian Ambassador to South Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko in a written interview with Yonhap, as reported by Ukrinform.
“Ukraine does not see the issue of North Korean soldiers being held by its military as a matter for negotiation or exchange, but as an issue to be handled based on international law and humanitarian principles,” Ponomarenko said.
He stressed that the Ukrainian government takes all official requests and signals from South Korea regarding the fate of the captured North Korean servicemen seriously and acknowledges Seoul’s concerns.
The ambassador noted that in exchange for providing military assistance to Russia, North Korea likely demands advanced military technology or other forms of strategic support from Moscow.
Ponomarenko warned that South Korea should be aware of the long-term security risks posed by North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.
“South Korean leaders should not forget that Pyongyang also uses Ukrainian soil as a testing ground for its weaponry, which could be used in future possible standoff on the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, I think the Republic of Korea has no reason to hesitate in the development of full-scale military-technical cooperation with Ukraine. “It’s a matter of interest for both Kyiv and Seoul,” the ambassador emphasized.
Since the start of the war, South Korea has provided only non-lethal and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
In January, Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers during combat in Russia’s Kursk region. One of the captured soldiers expressed his desire to defect to South Korea in an interview with the media.
Since then, speculation has arisen that Ukraine might use these soldiers as “bargaining chips” to persuade Seoul to provide weapons for its fight against Moscow.
Some analysts also suggested that the North Korean POWs could become a leverage point in US-Russia negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine.
South Korea has stated that it is ready to offer the captured North Korean soldiers protection and assistance if they choose to relocate to the country, as they are considered South Korean citizens under its constitution.
Read also: Ukraine has returned 4,306 prisoners from Russian captivity – Zelenskyy
