People Power Party Rep. Yu Yong-weon said on the 24th, regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent remarks about sending two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, “It has been confirmed that the two arrived safely in South Korea a few days ago.”
Rep. Yu held a press conference at the National Assembly that day and stated, “While we had prior knowledge of their entry, we refrained from disclosing the details due to prioritizing national interests, including the safety of the individuals and diplomatic relations, while maintaining strict security.”
After the press conference, Rep. Yu told reporters regarding the timing of the North Korean prisoners’ entry, “I understand they departed Ukraine last weekend, transited through a third country, and arrived in South Korea 3–4 days ago. While I do not know their exact current location, I believe relevant South Korean intelligence agencies are protecting them.”
Regarding the repatriation negotiations between South Korea and Ukraine, he said, “I understand the two countries reached a basic agreement on repatriation around last June. Ukraine secretly sent a special envoy, leading to a fundamental agreement between South Korean diplomatic and high-level authorities on prisoner repatriation. This was later reaffirmed through a South Korea–Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs ministerial meeting.”
Rep. Yu added, “I express deep respect and support for the courageous decision of the two young men who survived a brutal battlefield and chose freedom of their own will. The most urgent task is to help them settle stably in our society.”
He also urged, “North Korea is advancing its weapons systems by introducing Russia’s latest military technology in exchange for the lives of its youth. Within the scope of ensuring their safety, I hope an opportunity will soon be arranged for the two to directly inform the South Korean public about the reality of North Korean troops’ participation in Ukraine.”
Rep. Yu visited Ukraine in February 2025, becoming the only South Korean lawmaker to directly interview the two North Korean prisoners and confirm their intention to go to South Korea. Since then, he has repeatedly urged the South Korean government to expedite their repatriation. He stated that day, “During my second visit to Ukraine in February, I repeatedly requested strong measures from the government and Ukrainian authorities to prevent their forced repatriation to North Korea against their will.”
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