Ankara: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha engaged in discussions on Tuesday regarding the potential transfer of North Korean soldiers captured while fighting in Ukraine, aiming to relocate them to South Korea. This meeting marked the first visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister to South Korea since 2015.

According to Anadolu Agency, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced on US social media platform X that both nations are committed to finding a solution for the North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) that aligns with international law and humanitarian principles, while also considering the wishes of the individuals involved. Earlier this month, South Korea expressed its willingness to accept North Korean POWs captured in Ukraine if they choose to relocate to the South.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il emphasized, "It remains the case that the North Korean POWs in Ukraine want to come to South Korea. If their transfer to the South is decided, the process will proceed in accordance with relevant domestic laws and procedures."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha shared on social media that their discussions delved into the POW issue, emphasizing respect for international humanitarian law. He also highlighted the shared challenges both countries face due to the increasing cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

In addition, Minister Cho commended the resilience of the Ukrainian people and assured continued support from Seoul for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts. Sybiha noted that the talks reaffirmed the expanding cooperation between Ukraine and South Korea, encompassing political dialogue, economic ties, business engagement in Ukraine's reconstruction, and security cooperation. The bilateral trade between the two nations reached nearly $1 billion in 2024.

Sybiha stated, "We agreed that the development of our cooperation will strengthen security, stability and international law across both Europe and the Indo-Pacific." He also visited the Demilitarized Zone, the military-controlled buffer zone along the North Korean border, drawing parallels between its significance and Ukraine's front lines due to the actions of Pyongyang and Moscow.

In a related development, South Korea's spy agency reported that North Korea deployed 1,000 military engineers to Russia's Kursk region in August 2025 to assist in clearing landmines, following an earlier deployment of approximately 15,000 combat troops to support Russia's war efforts, resulting in a loss of 2,000 North Korean troops in the conflict.