South Korea is willing to accept North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine if they wish to defect. Discussions between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul and Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha emphasized that these soldiers would be treated as South Korean citizens. The involvement of North Korean troops in the Ukraine conflict raises significant geopolitical and humanitarian concerns.
South Korea and Ukraine recently engaged in discussions regarding North Korean soldiers captured during the ongoing conflict. According to South Korea’s state news agency Yonhap, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul expressed readiness to accept these prisoners, provided they are willing to relocate. He emphasized that any soldier who expresses the intention to defect would be considered a South Korean citizen.
Ukraine has estimated that nearly 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russia against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that approximately 4,000 of these soldiers were killed or injured in fighting in the Kursk region during a significant counterattack last August. This marks a notable involvement of North Korean forces in an external military conflict.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the presence of North Korean troops in the Ukraine war, despite a mutual defense agreement signed last November. This agreement ensures support for each other in case of external attacks. In January, President Zelensky stated that two wounded North Korean soldiers were captured in combat and released a video where one soldier indicated a desire to remain in Ukraine.
One North Korean soldier reportedly expressed his interest in asylum during an interview with South Korea’s Chosun newspaper. This highlights the potential risks for captured North Korean soldiers, as North Korean defector Pak Yusung noted the dire consequences for soldiers who defect or provide information to the enemy, including punishment of their families, political imprisonment, or execution.
The ongoing discussions between South Korea and Ukraine showcase the complex dynamics surrounding North Korean soldiers captured in conflict. With both nations considering the fates of these soldiers, the talks indicate a willingness from South Korea to accept defectors while highlighting the potential dangers that captured North Korean soldiers face. This situation underscores the broader implications of North Korean military involvement abroad and the geopolitical interactions among South Korea, Ukraine, and North Korea.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
