Captured North Korean fighters are not a 'bargaining chip' for Ukraine – ambassador

This was reported by the Ukrainian Ambassador to South Korea Dmitry Ponomarenko in a written interview with the Renhap publication, as reported by Ukrinform.

“Ukraine does not consider the issue of North Korean aircraft held by its troops to be a subject of negotiations or exchange, but rather views it as an issue that must be resolved on the basis of international law and humanitarian norms,” Ponomarenko said.

He noted that the Ukrainian leadership pays serious attention to all official requests and signals from South Korea regarding the fate of captured North Korean soldiers and is aware of Seoul’s concerns.

The ambassador added that in exchange for military aid from Russia, North Korea would likely demand high military technology or other forms of strategic support from Moscow.

Ponomarenko warned that South Korea must understand the long-term security threats posed by North Korea's involvement in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“The leaders of South Korea should not forget that Pyongyang also uses Ukrainian territory to test its weapons, which could be used in a possible future conflict on the Korean Peninsula. In this regard, I believe that the Republic of Korea has no reason to postpone the development of full military-technical cooperation with Ukraine. “This is a matter of interest for both Kyiv and Seoul,” the ambassador emphasized.

Since the beginning of the war, South Korea has provided Ukraine with only non-military and humanitarian aid.

Read also: Ukraine and South Korea discussed the issue of repatriation of prisoners of war from the DPRK – media

In January, Ukrainian troops captured two North Korean soldiers during a battle in Russia's Kursk region. One of the captives told the media he wanted to move to South Korea.

There has since been speculation that Ukraine could use the missiles as a bargaining chip to persuade Seoul to provide weapons to fight Moscow.

Some analysts have also suggested that North Korean prisoners could become leverage in negotiations between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

South Korea has said it is willing to provide the captured North Korean soldiers with protection and assistance if they decide to relocate to the country, as they are considered South Korean citizens under its constitution.