The South Korean Ministry of Unification has remained silent on the issue of North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine. This is surprising, especially considering the current administration’s vocal stance on human rights issues affecting not only defectors but also North Korean citizens, including discussions about establishing a dedicated North Korean Human Rights Ministry.
Recently, when the defection intentions of North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine were confirmed, it was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Ministry of Unification, that addressed the human rights concerns and became the government’s spokesperson on the issue.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “North Korean soldiers are considered South Korean citizens under our Constitution, and respecting an individual’s right to choose regarding prisoner repatriation aligns with international law and norms. This also ensures they are not sent back to a place where they might face persecution against their will.” The ministry also confirmed that this position was communicated to Ukraine.
In contrast, the Ministry of Unification responded, “We understand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a relevant statement.” Given the Ministry of Unification’s previous emphasis on improving the human rights of North Korean residents, one might wonder why it has left the issue of North Korean prisoners of war—whose identities have already been publicly revealed—entirely to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Ministry of Unification official explained, “When defectors are abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs typically handles related matters.”
However, experts and media outlets across the board argue that these prisoners should be classified as refugees or defectors and that their repatriation to South Korea should be expedited. While North Korea continues to deny their involvement and maintains a stance of indifference, the crucial question remains: don’t these individuals themselves want to come to South Korea?
Even if the government had followed specific protocols and procedures, there is a strong argument that a humanitarian message could have been issued—and should have been.
In October 2023, the Ministry of Unification took a strong position regarding the large-scale forced repatriation of North Korean defectors from China, stating, “The government firmly believes that North Korean defectors abroad should never be forcibly repatriated against their will, as such actions violate international norms prohibiting forced returns.” Given this stance, one might ask: what is the essential difference between the situation of North Korean defectors forcibly returned from China and the case of North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine?