Rep. Yoo Yong Won of the People Power Party claimed on Tuesday that two North Korean prisoners were excluded from the recent Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange. He urged the government to take action to bring these individuals to South Korean soil.
Yoo stated he confirmed this information through Ukrainian sources. Ri and Baek, two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in January, were not included in the list of over 2,000 prisoners exchanged between Ukraine and Russia from May 23 to 25.
A source told Yoo that this action was in response to a request from the South Korean government. South Korea has repeatedly expressed its willingness to accept all North Korean soldiers who wish to come to South Korea, and Ukraine has pledged to cooperate with this stance.
During his visit to Ukraine in February, Yoo met with these individuals. He reported that Ri clearly expressed his desire to defect to South Korea, while Baek was also open to the idea. Yoo argued that the government should take a more proactive approach to facilitate their transfer to South Korea.
Yoo emphasized that these men are clinging to hope in the name of South Korea amidst great uncertainty. He expressed urgent concerns that they might be repatriated to North Korea due to complex political calculations, especially given the upcoming South Korean presidential election.
Rep. Yoo released an audio recording of Ri expressing his fears about returning to North Korea. Ri said that if he were to return to his homeland as a prisoner, his parents would probably be gone already. Further, thinking about that drains his energy all day.
Furthermore, Yoo stressed that bringing these individuals to South Korea goes beyond humanitarian concerns. It’s a critical issue that demonstrates South Korea’s commitment to human rights on the global stage. These men already anticipate the tragic fate awaiting them and their families if sent back to North Korea, noting that it’s time for South Korea to step up and take action.