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.
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The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
Tajikistan will reduce electricity exports and increase water reserves ahead of winter as the government seeks to improve domestic power supplies after last year’s seasonal shortages.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 13th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Ilham Aliyev is holding his annual question-and-answer session with international journalists at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit the eastern coast of mainland China this year, brought heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides after making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm.
President Ilham Aliyev is holding his annual question-and-answer session with international journalists at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan.
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
The UK has announced a fresh round of sanctions against individuals and organisations it says are responsible for cyber attacks and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence, in a move aimed at countering efforts to destabilise Europe.
A 93-year-old British woman has died after being injured in wildfires that swept through southeastern Spain's Almeria province, regional authorities said, bringing the confirmed death toll to 13 people.
More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across 27 European countries during a record-breaking heatwave in late June, with older people accounting for the vast majority of the toll, according to official mortality data.
An overnight fire at a popular bar in Bangkok has killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, making it one of the deadliest pub disasters in the Thai capital in recent years. Authorities say the venue quickly filled with thick smoke, trapping patrons inside.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 13th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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