A North Korean defector human rights organization announced on Tuesday that President Donald Trump recently responded to a letter requesting protection for North Korean soldiers detained in Ukraine.
The Emergency Committee for Free Repatriation of North Korean Soldiers (the Committee) reported that the Free North Korean Coalition, a U.S.-based human rights group comprised of North Korean defectors, sent an official letter to President Trump on January 25. The letter urged respect for the free will of North Korean prisoners of war and called for their protection under the principle of non-refoulement.
In the letter, the Coalition emphasized that the North Korean soldiers detained in Ukraine have repeatedly and clearly expressed their desire to relocate to South Korea or a third country.
According to the Trump letter released by the Committee, President Trump responded to the Free North Korean Coalition on Monday, expressing gratitude for the issues raised.
Trump said that, because of proud and dedicated citizens like them, he would never stop fighting to protect their values, defend freedom, and put America first, but he did not take a stance on the issue of North Korean prisoners.
The Committee plans to launch a public petition urging the establishment of a Humanitarian Protection Task Force for North Korean Soldiers directly under the South Korean President. They will also pursue policy recommendations and meetings with the government and the National Assembly. Additionally, they intend to strengthen their response at the international level, working with refugee and anti-torture mechanisms.
The Committee explained that they are promoting the adoption of a resolution urging the Ukrainian government, particularly the Presidential Office and the War Prisoner Treatment Coordination Headquarters, to respect the free will of North Korean soldiers and register them as protected individuals.
The Committee emphasized that before discussing the appropriateness of revealing personal information, voice recordings, videos, and handwritten letters of the prisoners in question, immediate protective measures against potential threats to life due to forced repatriation must take precedence.