Ukraine's foreign minister may visit Seoul to discuss bilateral ties, North Korean POWs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday it is coordinating a visit by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to Seoul.

"We are in consultation with the Ukrainian side regarding the foreign minister's visit to South Korea," ministry spokesperson Park Il said at a press briefing. "If the visit takes place, discussions are expected to cover the overall bilateral relationship."

The visit is also expected to include discussions on the repatriation of North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces. 

Two North Korean prisoners of war (POW), who were captured in early 2025 after being deployed to fight for Russia after Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in Kursk in August 2024, have expressed their wish to defect to South Korea through handwritten letters delivered to South Korean defector organizations.

"We will continue efforts to ensure that any transfer of North Korean POWs to South Korea is carried out in accordance with their intention. South Korea and Ukraine have shared the understanding that the issue should be resolved in line with international law and humanitarian principles," Park said.

Under South Korea's constitution, North Koreans are considered South Korean nationals, and the government's standing policy is to accept all those who request to come to South Korea.

The government has also said it would not accept the forced repatriation of the individuals to Russia or North Korea, and that it will provide the necessary protection and support in accordance with relevant laws.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY JUNG SIN-AE [[email protected]]