Zelenskyy Says "Two North Korean POWs Sent to South Korea"; Blue House Says "Necessary Consultations Have Been Held"

 【Financial News Mexico City, Mexico—Reporter Choi Jong-geun】The Blue House said on the 23rd (local time) that it had "maintained necessary communication and consultations with Ukraine and other relevant countries and institutions" after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces to South Korea. This effectively amounted to not denying that they had been sent to South Korea.
A Blue House official made the remarks regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's mention of the North Korean POWs during his address to the UN General Assembly. The official explained, "We have consistently maintained that the matter must be resolved in a manner that respects the free will of those concerned and complies with international law and humanitarian principles."
However, the Blue House declined to provide details about the disposition of the North Korean POWs. "As this is a sensitive matter involving the personal safety of the individuals concerned and their families, it is difficult to confirm whether individual personnel have been transferred or otherwise handled, as well as the timing, route, or specific details of consultations between the two countries," the official said.
Earlier, President Zelenskyy said in his address to the UN General Assembly, "Recently, we sent two North Korean prisoners of war to the Republic of Korea."
He said, "They are not easy to capture. One of them tried to take his own life when he realized he was about to be captured, and was shocked that fate would not let him die."
He went on to criticize North Korea, saying, "This is how people are raised in North Korea. It deprives them of their freedom and their right to choose."
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived at Mexico's Felipe Ángeles International Airport after completing his UN General Assembly schedule in New York. It is the first state visit by a South Korean president to Mexico in 16 years.
During his three-day, two-night state visit, President Lee will hold a summit meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum and seek to expand cooperation in areas including AI and digital technology, aviation and aerospace, the defense industry, and culture.

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