Presidential Office: "Aware Zelensky Would Mention North Korean Prisoners at UN... Public Disclosure Hindered Swift Resolution"

Senior Official: "No Clear Prior Notification"

"Possible Mention Detected via Diplomatic Channels"

"Not About Inter-Korean Relations... A Humanitarian Issue"

South Korea and UN Command Launch Joint Investigation into DMZ Landmine
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On September 24 (local time), the Office of the President stated that the South Korean government had been made aware, through diplomatic channels, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might mention the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly. However, they clarified that they had not received explicit prior notice of the speech's contents from the Ukrainian side.

President Lee Jae-myung is giving a greeting at a dinner meeting with overseas Koreans held at a hotel in Mexico on the 24th (local time). 2026.9.25 Yonhap News Agency

A senior official from the Office of the President met with reporters at the press center set up in Mexico City during President Lee Jaemyung's state visit to Mexico and addressed the issue of North Korean prisoners of war. The official said, “Our consistent principle is to handle such matters quickly, safely, and discreetly, taking into account the safety and human rights of those directly involved and their families.” He added that the process of resolving the issue has become more difficult now that it has been made public. Previously, President Zelensky revealed in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 23rd that two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces had recently been sent to South Korea.

The senior official further responded to a question about whether the government was aware in advance of President Zelensky's remarks, explaining, “We did not receive explicit prior notice,” but acknowledged that they were aware through diplomatic channels that the issue of the prisoners of war might be addressed. He also stated that both the South Korean and Ukrainian governments have shared their basic positions on the handling of prisoners in the past.

Regarding the government's attempt to handle the repatriation issue privately, the official explained, “The repatriation of prisoners of war is a complex, multi-step process and is generally managed quietly.” He emphasized that the government is pursuing the matter in line with humanitarian and human rights principles, and clarified that no other political considerations, such as improving inter-Korean relations, have played a role.

The senior official from the Office of the President stressed, “This is an issue where the safety and human rights of the individuals and their families must be prioritized above all else,” and noted that the exposure of relevant details to the public and the subsequent interviews and reports have made it more difficult to resolve the issue smoothly. The government plans to finalize the matter as soon as possible through continued private discussions with the Ukrainian side.

The official also dismissed any interpretation linking this incident to the government's support for Ukraine, explaining that support for Ukraine is a separate, long-standing matter and is not being assessed in connection with the North Korean prisoners of war issue.

Regarding the recent landmine explosion incident in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the official said, “We are carrying out an objective, swift, and thorough investigation,” and denied any allegations of concealment or delay. The government explained that the site of the accident is an area where a new patrol route was being established rather than an existing one, and that, given the high risk of landmines, a cautious approach to the site has been taken. Currently, a joint investigation by the South Korean military and the United Nations Command is underway. The government stated that all possibilities are under investigation, including whether the landmine was installed by the South Korean military, by the North, or was one that had been lost previously.

In this regard, the senior official from the Office of the President also cautioned against making assumptions about the type of landmine or who installed it based solely on the speculation of outside experts who have not directly examined the site. The official pointed out, “If speculative information is amplified in the media and becomes politicized, it could actually hinder the process of establishing the facts.”

Concerning the US-China summit held in Washington, DC on the same day, the official said the issues discussed included the Korean Peninsula as well as matters concerning Ukraine and China. However, with respect to the Korean Peninsula, he said further verification is needed regarding the specifics of the conversation between the two leaders.

The senior official from the Office of the President stated, “Despite continued competition and conflict in recent US-China relations, the two countries are maintaining a trend of managing their relationship through direct communication between the leaders. While stable management of US-China relations is fundamentally positive for Korea as a neighboring country, the actual ripple effects will depend on the content of specific agreements and subsequent actions, which will need to be closely monitored.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.