Human Rights Groups Advocate for North Korean POWs in Ukraine

Human rights groups are urging Ukraine to let North Korean POWs seek refuge in South Korea, warning of severe repercussions if repatriated. This follows the capture of two North Korean soldiers amid serious military involvement of North Korea in Russia, raising concerns about human rights violations and international law adherence.

Human rights organizations are calling on Ukraine to permit North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to seek refuge in South Korea, rather than risking repatriation to North Korea, where they face execution. In a letter directed to Ukraine’s embassy in Seoul, the Transitional Justice Working Group and eight other entities warned about the potential severe repercussions for these individuals if returned to their homeland.

This appeal coincides with Ukraine’s capture of two North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region earlier this year. President Zelenskyy has suggested the possibility of exchanging these individuals for Ukrainian prisoners being held by Russia. However, activists contend that such an action would contravene Article 45 of the Geneva Convention, which forbids the forced repatriation of persons at risk of persecution.

Intelligence reports reveal that North Korea has dispatched between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to Russia since 2024, marking its largest military engagement overseas since the Korean War. This deployment is fueled by the growing relationship between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, formalized at their June 2024 summit, where a mutual assistance agreement was reportedly signed.

These North Korean soldiers are primarily functioning as light infantry, embedded within Russian military units under false identities. They are engaged in defensive operations and support trench warfare, while senior North Korean commanders manage operations from behind the front lines. Ukrainian intelligence has identified three North Korean generals involved in this military effort, one of whom is Colonel General Kim Yong Bok, the special forces commander.

Combat casualties among North Korean troops have been significant, with estimates suggesting that over 3,000 soldiers—approximately 40% of their initial contingent—had been killed or injured by January 2025. Following a three-week absence, North Korea reportedly dispatched a second wave of 3,500 soldiers to Russia’s Far East for training.

In return for its military assistance, North Korea has been compensated through increased Russian exports of oil and other crucial goods. A South Korean think tank aligned with intelligence estimates that North Korea earned around $540 million from arms exports in 2023, primarily through sales to Russia.

Furthermore, the Institute for the Study of War has noted that North Korea perceives the conflict in Ukraine as an essential opportunity for its military to test weapon systems against Western supplies and obtain real combat experience. This alliance not only reinforces North Korea’s anti-Western sentiment but may also alter strategic dynamics on the Korean Peninsula.

Such military cooperation violates U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, which prohibits North Korea from exporting arms or military forces. The deployment has elicited international outrage and new sanctions from both the United States and South Korea.

Human rights advocates assert that permitting North Korean POWs to defect could act as a motivation for more soldiers to surrender, thereby undermining North Korea’s support for Russia. South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon, who visited Ukraine in February, disclosed that one of the captured soldiers expressed a desire to defect, while the other remained uncertain about their intentions.

In conclusion, human rights groups are pressing Ukraine to allow North Korean POWs to seek asylum in South Korea, citing the severe consequences of repatriation. This plea is amplified by the significant North Korean military involvement in Russia, the challenges on the battlefield, and the economic benefits accruing to North Korea from this alliance. The ongoing military cooperation raises critical questions about human rights and international law compliance, particularly concerning the treatment of POWs.

Original Source: www.dailynk.com