South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina met with ICRC Director General Pierre Krahenbuhl in Seoul, seeking cooperation to respect the wishes of North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine who reportedly desire to come to South Korea, citing non-refoulement.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed at the NATO summit in Ankara to handle captured North Korean soldiers on humanitarian grounds, respecting their wishes. South Korea also pledged $100 million in assistance to Ukraine.
Ukraine has agreed to respect the free will of North Korean prisoners of war regarding their repatriation, potentially accelerating their transfer to South Korea. However, due to Russia's pressure and the need to consider broader POW exchange issues, the process may take time.
South Korea and Ukraine agreed Tuesday to work toward resolving the issue of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured in Ukraine, in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The consensus was made during a meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, in Seoul.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will visit Seoul on June 30 to meet with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun. Discussions will focus on bilateral relations, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the issue of North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces who wish to defect to South Korea.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced preparations for Korean companies to participate in Middle East reconstruction projects post-ceasefire. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to ensure safe passage for Korean vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and confirmed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's visit on the 30th, where the return of North Korean POWs held in Ukraine is expected to be discussed.
UN High Commissioner Volker Turk emphasizes non-refoulement for North Korean POWs in Ukraine, criticizes ongoing human rights violations in North Korea, and advocates for South Korea's anti-discrimination law.
