Ukraine seeks stronger security partnership with South Korea

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha held talks in Seoul, focusing on Ukraine's postwar reconstruction, security cooperation, and the future of North Korean prisoners of war captured while fighting alongside Russian forces.

A key topic of the meeting was the possible repatriation of two North Korean soldiers detained by Ukraine. Speaking after the talks, Sybiha said the ministers had discussed the issue in detail and agreed it should be handled in accordance with international humanitarian law, Caliber.Az reports, citing Korean media.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the discussions were progressing constructively.

“The two foreign ministers are holding a constructive discussion under the agreement that the North Korean POW issue should be resolved in a manner conforming to international law and humanitarian principles. The government will continue to devote diplomatic resources to making progress on, and eventually resolving, the North Korean POW issue,” ministry spokesperson Park Il said.

Seoul maintains that the captured soldiers are constitutionally regarded as South Korean citizens and has indicated its willingness to accept them after they reportedly expressed a desire to defect. Ukrainian officials have reportedly agreed they should not be repatriated against their will, while continuing to assess broader legal and humanitarian implications.

The ministers also discussed the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, South Korea's support for Ukraine, and opportunities for Korean companies to participate in Ukraine's reconstruction.

Following the meeting, Sybiha wrote on X:

“We spoke about shared challenges stemming from the deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.”

He thanked South Korea for its continued support and warned that Russia's war has global consequences.

“Russia's aggression has global consequences. Including through Moscow's direct engagement of the DPRK into its war against Ukraine and everything that Russia provides North Korea in return.”

Ahead of the talks, Sybiha visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone, where he drew parallels between security on the Korean Peninsula and the war in Ukraine.

“Standing at the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, it becomes very clear that global security is directly interlinked,” he wrote, adding that “Ukraine stands ready to export security and share its expertise.”

During his visit, Sybiha also met South Korean business leaders to discuss reconstruction projects, highlighting Ukraine's battlefield-tested drone technology and defence industry as promising areas for future cooperation.

By Vafa Guliyeva