South Korea and Ukraine Collaborate on North Korean Prisoners of War Situation

South Korea and Ukraine are discussing North Korean prisoners of war, with South Korea willing to accept them if they express a desire to defect. North Korean soldiers have been involved in the Ukraine conflict, with significant casualties reported. Concerns exist regarding the potential repercussions for these captured soldiers in North Korea.

Recently, South Korea and Ukraine have engaged in discussions regarding the situation of North Korean prisoners of war. According to reports from the state news agency Yonhap, South Korea has expressed willingness to accept these prisoners, contingent upon their desire to relocate. In a telephone conversation, Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul conveyed to his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, that the prisoners would be treated as South Korean citizens, should they indicate an intention to defect.

Estimates indicate that North Korea has deployed nearly 11,000 soldiers to support Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine, a notable first for the reclusive nation involving its troops in an overseas conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces have inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean troops, particularly in the Kursk region, where an estimated 4,000 soldiers were either killed or injured since last year.

Despite these developments, both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict, even after they signed a mutual defense agreement last November obligating support in case of an external attack. The capture of two wounded North Korean soldiers by Ukrainian forces was confirmed in January, with one soldier expressing a willingness to remain in Ukraine.

During the discussions, concerns over the treatment of captured North Korean soldiers were raised. Defector Pak Yusung highlighted the severe consequences faced by these soldiers, noting that any captured individuals providing information to enemies might endanger their families, potentially leading to imprisonment or execution in North Korea.

In summary, South Korea and Ukraine are considering the fate of North Korean prisoners of war, with South Korea open to their acceptance if they wish to defect. The involvement of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine’s conflict and the potential repercussions for these soldiers if captured underscore the complex geopolitical dynamics at play. As discussions continue, the situation remains precarious for North Korean troops caught in the conflict.

Original Source: www.independent.co.uk