Zelenskyy: "Two North Korean POWs Sent to South Korea"... Government Effectively Acknowledges It

[Financial News] The government neither confirmed nor denied reports on the 24th that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces had been sent to South Korea.
However, a government official said, "It is difficult to confirm whether and how the custody of individual personnel will be handled, as well as the timing and route and the details of specific consultations between the two countries." This was interpreted as the government effectively acknowledging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement that the North Korean prisoners of war had been sent to South Korea, since it did not deny the claim.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said regarding the transfer of the North Korean prisoners of war, "We have consistently maintained the position that the matter should be resolved in a manner that respects the individuals' free will and is consistent with international law and humanitarian principles."
The official added, "In line with this position, we have communicated and held necessary consultations with Ukraine and other relevant countries and organizations."
The official prefaced the remarks by saying, "This is a sensitive matter involving the personal safety of the individuals and their families," and added, "It is difficult to confirm the details of the specific consultations."
Meanwhile, in an address to the UN General Assembly on the 23rd (local time), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced, "We recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea."
The two North Korean prisoners of war were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in January last year. They have since expressed their intention to defect to South Korea through media interviews and handwritten letters delivered to North Korean defector groups.
[email protected] Kim Gyu-seong Reporter