**Ukraine and South Korea Discuss Transfer of North Korean Soldiers**
Ukraine is in talks with South Korea about handing over two North Korean soldiers who were captured by Ukrainian forces. The discussion was reported by the Yonhap news agency on March 17.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Cho Tae-yul, had a phone call with Ukraine’s counterpart, Andrii Sybiha. During this conversation, they talked about transferring these prisoners of war (POWs) from Ukraine to South Korea.
According to Mr. Cho, under the South Korean Constitution, North Koreans are considered South Korean citizens. However, for them to be transferred, the soldiers must express their desire to move to South Korea voluntarily.
**Background on North Korean Soldiers in Russia**
In the fall of 2024, up to 12,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia’s Kursk Oblast to counter Ukraine’s military operations along the border. Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers as POWs in January this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reported that North Korean forces fighting for Russia had suffered significant losses, with 4,000 casualties and many deaths. He attributed these heavy losses to the lack of combat experience among North Korean soldiers and their use of human wave attacks with limited equipment.
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