South Korea Offers Shelter to North Korean POWs Defected from Russian-Ukraine Conflict
Seoul is open to discussions with Ukraine about bringing two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, should they express a desire to relocate, said South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong, according to Yonhap.
On 12 January, South Korea’s intelligence agency confirmed that Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers and pledged close cooperation with Ukrainian authorities to share valuable information.
North Korean Soldiers Fighting in Russian-Ukraine Conflict
North Korea is estimated to have sent around 11,000 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, with nearly 300 reported killed and 2,700 wounded. The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv forces captured two soldiers in Kursk Oblast, where they were fighting alongside Russian forces.
Under South Korea’s Constitution, the entire Korean Peninsula is considered its territory, recognizing all residents on the peninsula as its nationals. “As North Korean soldiers are our nationals according to the Constitution, (the government) plans to hold discussions with Ukraine if they request defection to South Korea,” said Lee Jae-woong.
Captured Soldier’s Desire to Live in Ukraine
However, he stressed that neither of the two captured soldiers has yet expressed an intention to move to South Korea. The country’s authorities will remain in contact with Ukraine on the matter. In a video posted by Zelenskyy, one of the prisoners asked if Ukrainians are good people. After receiving an affirmative response from the translator, he said, “I want to live here.”
Earlier, Ukrainian soldiers of the 6th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces said they repelled an assault by North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, eliminating 18 North Korean fighters. One surviving North Korean soldier attempted a failed ambush on the Ukrainian soldiers. He tried to deceive the fighters and detonate a grenade, intending to kill them along with himself.
Expert Opinions and Related Information
– ISW: North Korean troops lose about one-third of their 12,000-strong contingent in Kursk Oblast
– North Korean POW reveals he expected training, not fighting against Ukraine
– Ukraine captures two North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia – Zelenskyy
This unfolding situation highlights the complexities of international conflicts and the human stories that emerge from them. It prompts us to consider the personal experiences and decisions made by individuals caught up in global events beyond their control. As we follow the developments in this case, let us remember the human faces behind the headlines and the impact of war on individuals and families around the world.
