The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) said it is reviewing the possibility of issuing a statement urging the government to take interest in the return of two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces.
The commission held its fifth plenary meeting on the afternoon of March 9 at its meeting room in Jung-gu, Seoul, where the matter was discussed.
Near the end of the meeting, NHRC non-standing commissioner Oh Wan-ho said, “There is something I would like to say,” adding, “Two North Korean prisoners are currently being held in Ukraine, and I believe conservative groups and lawmakers are also trying to bring them to South Korea.”
He continued, “Perhaps because the current administration is progressive, or because it is considering relations with North Korea, the government appears reluctant to step forward on this issue,” adding that the commission itself should express an opinion urging the government to work toward the return of the two prisoners.
NHRC non-standing commissioner Lee Han-byeol also said, “Rather than only issuing a statement, I hope the commission will make recommendations to relevant institutions,” adding that “an opinion statement alone may be too weak.” In response, NHRC Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho said the matter would need to be submitted as a formal agenda item and asked the secretariat to review it.
Earlier, two North Korean prisoners confirmed to have been captured in Ukraine early last year expressed their intention to defect to South Korea, but their transfer process has shown no progress for about a year.
Meanwhile, the commission also received a report on plans to publish the “2025 NHRC Human Rights Report,” as well as a review of the implementation status of recommendations and opinion statements adopted at the commission’s plenary and standing committee meetings last year.
The commission also discussed a proposed partial revision to the “Enforcement Decree on the Organization of the National Human Rights Commission and Its Affiliated Institutions,” which includes the establishment of a National Human Rights Education Center.