South Korea: No military aid tied to North Korean POW transfer — SkimNews
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- South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on Sept 30 that no military aid was pledged to Ukraine in exchange for two North Korean soldiers captured fighting in Russia's Kursk region, according to opposition lawmaker Yoo Yeong-ha of the People Power Party.
- Ukraine's Zelensky disclosed the transfer at the UN General Assembly without notifying Seoul, prompting South Korea's presidential office to demand an explanation and apology — which Ukraine has not provided and Kyiv denies any secrecy agreement existed.
- Yoo Yeong-ha, citing the NIS, suggested Zelensky may have publicized the transfer hoping it would build South Korean public support for sending weapons to Ukraine.
- The two North Korean soldiers were transferred to South Korea in mid-September, according to lawmaker Youn Kun-young, and face NIS questioning and security screening before any resettlement decision under South Korean law.
- Zelensky said more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently on Russian territory with preparations underway to deploy another 10,000, and warned in August that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could eventually be sent to fight for Russia.
- South Korea, a major arms producer, has so far sent only non-lethal aid including demining equipment to Ukraine despite pressure from Western countries and Kyiv for lethal weapons.
Why it matters: The dispute comes as Zelensky says over 8,000 North Korean troops are fighting for Russia, with 10,000 more being prepared. South Korea's denial of a weapons-for-POWs deal and refusal to acknowledge a secrecy agreement leaves Kyiv's push for lethal South Korean arms stalled — the POW transfer produced no leverage.
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