Ukraine is negotiating the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured during the ongoing conflict. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasized that these individuals are considered South Korean citizens but must express a desire to relocate. The negotiation follows the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in the Ukraine conflict, leading to significant casualties.
On March 17, 2025, Ukraine engaged in negotiations with South Korea regarding the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured in the ongoing conflict. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul communicated with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha to explore this potential exchange. According to Minister Cho, North Koreans are regarded as South Korean citizens under South Korea’s Constitution, although the prisoners must express their desire to relocate to South Korea.
Last fall, approximately 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast to support military operations against Ukraine, which initiated a cross-border offensive in August 2024. On January 11, Ukrainian forces successfully captured two North Korean soldiers as prisoners of war. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reported substantial losses within North Korean ranks, estimating that around 4,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed, primarily due to a lack of combat experience and tactics involving human wave assaults with inadequate equipment.
The ongoing discussions between Seoul and Kyiv about the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war highlight critical diplomatic negotiations amidst an evolving geopolitical landscape. As South Korea recognizes North Koreans as citizens, the importance of the prisoners’ own willingness to relocate cannot be overlooked. This situation underscores the complexities involved in military engagements and the humanitarian considerations that arise therein.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
