Ukraine is in negotiations with South Korea to transfer two North Korean POWs captured during the conflict. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasized that North Koreans are deemed citizens under South Korea’s Constitution. The captured soldiers were part of a larger deployment of North Korean troops to support Russian efforts against Ukraine.
On March 17, 2025, Ukraine engaged in negotiations with South Korea regarding the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured during the ongoing conflict. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held discussions via phone concerning this matter. Cho highlighted that under South Korea’s Constitution, individuals from North Korea are classified as South Korean citizens; however, it is imperative that these prisoners express a desire to relocate.
The context of this situation involves the deployment of up to 12,000 North Korean troops to Russia’s Kursk Oblast last autumn, aimed at countering Ukraine’s cross-border military actions initiated in August 2024. The aforementioned North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces on January 11. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously indicated that North Korean combatants have faced severe casualties, reporting around 4,000 losses, predominantly resulting from combat fatalities.
Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence, has ascribed the high casualty rates to the inexperience of North Korean forces and their reliance on human wave attacks executed with limited military resources. This situation illustrates the complexities of international military relations amid ongoing hostilities in the region.
The discussions between South Korea and Ukraine regarding the potential transfer of captured North Korean soldiers highlight important legal and humanitarian considerations. The circumstances surrounding the deployment of North Korean troops and their experiences in combat further illuminate the broader impacts of the conflict on international relations and military dynamics.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
