Zelensky May Have Revealed North Korean Prisoner Transfer to Seek Seoul’s Arms Support

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may have publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea in an effort to build public backing for Seoul providing military assistance to Ukraine, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.

Lawmaker Yoo Yeong-ha said the NIS assessed that Zelensky may have believed transferring the North Korean POWs to South Korea could help generate public support for Ukraine receiving weapons and other forms of assistance from Seoul.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russian troops and were later transferred to South Korea.

According to the lawmaker, the intelligence agency’s assessment points to the possibility that the disclosure was intended to draw greater attention in South Korea to North Korea’s military involvement in Russia’s war and strengthen support for Ukraine assistance.

The assessment reflects the intelligence agency’s interpretation of Zelensky’s possible motivation; it does not establish that the Ukrainian president disclosed the transfer specifically in exchange for South Korean military aid.