New Delhi, Sept. 24 -- South Korea's Foreign Ministry did not directly confirm Zelenskyy's comments but said it had been consulting with Kyiv and other relevant parties to resolve the matter in a manner that respects the soldiers' free will and complies with international law and humanitarian principles.

The ministry said in a statement that it would not confirm details about the soldiers' "disposition, the timing or route of their transfer or specific contents of consultations" with Ukraine, calling it a sensitive matter concerning the safety of the soldiers and their families.

In his speech to the U.N., Zelenskyy said Ukraine recently transferred the soldiers to South Korea, but did not provide more details about the transfer.

"These...