South Korea is ready to accept willing North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukraine. This announcement follows reports of North Korean troops supporting Russia, with significant casualties incurred. Captured soldiers may face dire consequences if they are deemed traitors, raising humanitarian concerns in the ongoing conflict.
The South Korean government has expressed its readiness to accept North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine, contingent upon the soldiers’ willingness to relocate. During a phone conversation, Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul assured his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, that the prisoners would be regarded as South Korean citizens if they expressed a desire to defect.
Estimates suggest that North Korea has deployed nearly 11,000 soldiers to support Russia in its ongoing conflict, which represents the first instance of North Korean forces engaging in a foreign war. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, approximately 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded during combat in the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces briefly entered last August.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have dismissed claims of North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine, despite a mutual defense agreement signed in November obligating both nations to provide assistance during external attacks. In January, President Zelensky announced the capture of two injured North Korean soldiers and shared a video wherein one expressed a desire to remain in Ukraine.
One soldier reportedly communicated with South Korea’s Chosun newspaper, indicating a willingness to defect and requesting information regarding asylum acceptance. The discussions between the foreign ministers reflect rising concerns about the consequences faced by captured North Korean soldiers. Pak Yusung, a North Korean defector, commented on the grave risks these soldiers encounter, stating they could face severe punishment, including execution, if captured and seen as traitors, as conveyed to ABC News.
In summary, South Korea is prepared to accept North Korean prisoners of war under the condition that they willingly choose to defect. This situation has arisen amidst concerns regarding the fate of these soldiers, who face severe repercussions if captured. The discourse between South Korean and Ukrainian officials highlights both a humanitarian response and geopolitical implications arising from North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
