Russia has reportedly made a proposal to Ukraine regarding the exchange of prisoners, suggesting that thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war could be swapped for two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine. This information emerged during Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha’s visit to South Korea, highlighting a complex diplomatic situation. The captured North Korean soldiers have expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea. However, several diplomatic sources have raised doubts about whether Moscow would indeed make an offer of such significant proportions.
During Sybiha’s visit to Seoul, he met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and engaged in discussions at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. In a private meeting, Sybiha reportedly conveyed that Russia proposed returning the North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in return for the release of thousands of Ukrainians in Russian custody. These comments were shared to underscore the difficult political choices Ukraine currently faces, rather than as a declaration of any formal negotiations.
This proposal underscores Ukraine’s challenge in navigating humanitarian concerns while striving to secure the release of its citizens. Meanwhile, South Korea has reiterated its readiness to accept the two North Korean soldiers should they choose to move there voluntarily, as South Korea regards North Koreans as its citizens under its constitution. Ukrainian officials have assured that they will not forcibly repatriate the prisoners if it goes against their wishes, though no definitive decision has been made public yet.
Conversations between Seoul and Kyiv have also broadened to explore South Korea’s potential involvement in Ukraine’s postwar recovery efforts. Ukraine has shown interest in enhanced South Korean participation in rebuilding critical sectors such as infrastructure and energy facilities after the conflict. Nonetheless, South Korea has maintained that humanitarian issues concerning the prisoners of war are distinct from its broader cooperation on reconstruction or other forms of assistance.
The future of the two North Korean soldiers is still unclear as both Ukrainian and South Korean officials continue their consultations with a focus on international law and humanitarian principles. The soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025, marking a significant incident as they are the first known case of North Korean troops being captured alive after being deployed to aid Russia’s military efforts. As diplomatic discussions move forward, the issue remains a sensitive matter involving humanitarian responsibilities, potential prisoner exchanges, and larger regional security implications.