North Korean POWs in Ukraine Formally Seek Defection to South Korea

North Korean Soldiers Express Defection Wish

Two North Korean soldiers, captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia, have formally expressed their wish to defect to South Korea. The soldiers, both in their 20s, conveyed their intentions in a letter written in October to a South Korean defector group, which was delivered earlier this month. This development was confirmed by Jang Se-yul, head of a North Korean defectors' group in Seoul.

The letter stated, 'We've made up our mind to go to South Korea, thinking of those in South Korea as our parents and brothers.' It also expressed gratitude to those who suggested their current situation was 'not a tragedy but the beginning of a new life,' adding that 'a new dream and aspiration have begun springing up on the back of support from people in the Republic of Korea.'

Capture and Context in the Ukraine Conflict

The two soldiers were captured in January 2025 by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region, where they were engaged in combat operations. They are currently being held in a prisoner-of-war camp near Kyiv. Their capture drew international attention earlier this year when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned it online.

North Korea has reportedly deployed an estimated 15,000 troops to Russia since October last year (2024) to support its war efforts in Ukraine. Other estimates from Ukrainian, U.S., and South Korean sources suggest numbers between 11,000 and 12,000 soldiers. Reports indicate that North Korean soldiers are often instructed to avoid capture, with some sources suggesting they are ordered to kill themselves rather than be taken prisoner.

Legal and Humanitarian Implications

The South Korean government has informed Ukrainian authorities of its willingness to accept the North Korean captives, provided their intentions to defect are formally confirmed. Under South Korean law, individuals from North Korea are considered South Korean nationals, making them eligible for government protection if they express a desire to defect.

Experts highlight that forcibly repatriating these soldiers to North Korea would violate the Geneva Third Convention, which stipulates that prisoners of war should not be repatriated against their will if they face substantial threats to their fundamental rights in their home country. Despite the clear expression of their wishes, concerns have been raised about delays in the repatriation process between South Korea and Ukraine, potentially leaving the soldiers in a state of limbo.