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South Korea to offer Ukraine opportunity to take North Korean POWs

South Korea to offer Ukraine opportunity to take North Korean POWs Photo: one of the North Korean soldiers in Ukrainian captivity (t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Author: Daryna Vialko

South Korea plans to hold consultations with Ukraine regarding the potential transfer of North Korean prisoners of war, provided that Ukraine submits an official request, Yonhap reports.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee Jae-woong, made this statement while commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's remarks about two North Korean soldiers captured in the Kursk region.

"As North Korean soldiers are our nationals according to the Constitution, (the government - ed.) plans to hold discussions with Ukraine if they request defection to South Korea," Lee said.

It is worth noting that South Korea's constitution recognizes the entire Korean Peninsula as its territory and effectively considers North Koreans as its citizens. According to Lee, no North Korean prisoners have yet expressed a desire to be transferred to South Korea.

What is known about the North Korean prisoners of war

Last week, Ukrainian soldiers captured two North Korean military personnel for the first time. The soldiers were injured but survived and were transported to Kyiv, where they are now communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine investigators.

South Korean intelligence stated that it would closely collaborate with its counterparts to exchange information. According to its estimates, North Korea has sent around 11,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine. Approximately 300 have already been killed, and around 2,700 have been wounded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un the opportunity to retrieve the prisoners. However, he set the condition that Kim organize an exchange for Ukrainian soldiers held in Russian captivity.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia uses North Korean soldiers in its Marine and Airborne units for assault operations.