South Korea has announced it will accept North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia if they wish to relocate to the South, citing international law and opposition to forced repatriation.
The proposal was confirmed on Tuesday by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il as Seoul prepares to host Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha for talks with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, on 30 June.
"If these individuals wish to come to South Korea, we will accept all of them, and, in accordance with the principles of international law, we absolutely cannot accept any forced repatriation to Russia or North Korea against their free will," Il said.
Ukraine confirmed in 2025 that it had captured two North Korean soldiers alive in Russia's Kursk region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the captures at the time, marking the first such confirmation since Pyongyang's troops entered the conflict in October 2024.
The deployment of North Korean forces was initially denied by both Moscow and Pyongyang. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin later praised North Korean troops for their role in helping Russia retake the Kursk region in early 2025.
Il said the two foreign ministers would discuss "a wide range of issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation", in addition to the issue of North Korean prisoners held in Ukraine.
The meeting comes amid growing cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine, as both countries continue to monitor North Korea's involvement in Russia's war effort.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar sys...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of ...
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar systems, as U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. The IRGC also said two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of around $690 million in additional support. The latest disbursement brings total funding under the programme to about $2.2 billion.
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries.
Defence companies are accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of high-speed interceptor drones as Russia increasingly deploys jet-powered versions of its Shahed attack drones, posing a growing challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed its latest review of Ukraine's financing programme, clearing the way for the immediate release of around $690 million in additional support. The latest disbursement brings total funding under the programme to about $2.2 billion.
Japan said on Tuesday it had lodged a diplomatic protest with China after Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire drills in waters Tokyo considers part of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Defence companies are accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of high-speed interceptor drones as Russia increasingly deploys jet-powered versions of its Shahed attack drones, posing a growing challenge to Ukraine's air defences.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Italian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters chanting "murderers" during demonstrations in the northern city of Bologna, over the death of a Moroccan businessman during an arrest attempt.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment