Ukrainian Ambassador to South Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko speaks during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Feb. 25, 2022. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The Ukrainian government is open to discussions with South Korea regarding the potential transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to the South, according to Ukrainian Ambassador to South Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko.

While Kyiv has yet to begin formal negotiations with Seoul, Ponomarenko said Ukraine is willing to cooperate on transferring the soldiers if they refuse to return to their home country.

"Given the threat to the life and freedom of North Korean servicemen in the event of their repatriation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and if they refuse to go back, we are open for a dialogue with international partners, in particular the Republic of Korea, regarding the possibilities of their transfer to third countries," Ponomarenko said in a recent written interview with The Korea Times, referring the two Koreas by their official names.

"In that case, I expect we will consult with South Korea on the modalities of their transfer."

In mid-January, Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers who had been fighting for Russia in the Kursk region. The soldiers, who carried Russian documents but did not speak the language, were taken prisoner and transported to Kyiv for questioning.

Footage of their interrogation revealed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Jan. 12 showed the soldiers claiming that they were initially unaware they were being deployed to an active combat zone, instead believing that they were participating in training exercises.

During the questioning, one of the soldiers testified that he served in a reconnaissance unit since joining the military at age 17.

A captured North Korean soldier is seen in this photo posted on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's X account, Jan. 12. Zelenskyy said two soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk region and are being interrogated in Kyiv. Yonhap

Shortly after the soldiers were captured, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it would discuss with Ukrainian authorities the possibility of bringing them to the South if the soldiers expressed a desire to do so.

However, if the soldiers wish to return to North Korea, Ukraine would be obligated under the Geneva Conventions to repatriate them, the ambassador noted.

Zelenskyy has publically offered to exchange the captured North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia. But given that neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops, facilitating such an exchange could be challenging.

"The issue of prisoner exchange is very delicate ... To prevent a negative impact on the process, it would be appropriate to refrain from premature comments on this matter at the time being," Ponomarenko said when asked whether talks with Pyongyang have materialized.

The ambassador said North Korean military personnel fighting in Russia have suffered heavy losses, with approximately 4,000 killed or wounded so far.

Amid the mounting death toll, North Korean troops appear to have ceased combat operations in Russia's Kursk region since mid-January, according to the latest analysis by South Korea's intelligence agency. However, officials have not been able to confirm whether this indicates a full withdrawal.

"Regardless of the number and quality of North Korean troops, they are an additional problem for our defenders, adding to their work and distracting them from destroying the Russian aggressors," Ponomarenko said, while not ruling out the possibility of additional troop deployment.

An administrative building in downtown Izyum, Kharkiv, Ukraine, is badly damaged, Tuesday (local time), amid Russia's ongoing invasion. At least five people died and more than 40 were injured in a Russian missile strike on the city. EPA-Yonhap

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, is seeing new developments as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for negotiations to end the conflict.

Yet the path to a U.S-brokered peace deal seems daunting as Moscow is determined to capture as much territory as possible.

"Ukraine wants to end this war more than any other country," Ponomarenko said.

However, the ambassador stressed two preconditions for any peace negotiations: first, Ukraine must be involved in discussions about its own future; and second, talks should be based on the U.N. Charter, ensuring respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

"It must be real peace, not appeasement of the aggressor. Ukraine is open to diplomacy, but only to the one that leads to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace," the envoy said. "Now is not the time for our partners to waver or tire. Weakness, compromise on fundamental issues or appeasement will harm not only Ukraine, but the rest of Europe and the world."