Two personnel captured by Ukrainian forces in the conflict against Russia were handed over to Seoul this week. These are the first North Korean soldiers taken alive since Pyongyang joined the war in 2024, marking a shift in the capture of personnel from the alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky for publicly disclosing the transfer, calling the revelation "deeply regrettable." Lee stated the disclosure violated a confidentiality agreement and compromised national security and diplomacy, arguing that such sensitive transfers should be managed based on national interests rather than political gains.