Expectations are rising for progress on the potential return of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) held in Ukraine to South Korea, as Monday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is scheduled to visit South Korea by June 30 to discuss related matters.
A high-ranking official from the State Department met with reporters and provided an update on the situation: It has reached a fundamental agreement with Ukraine regarding the North Korean prisoner of war’s (POW) potential return to South Korea. As he’s stated multiple times, the principle remains unchanged – it will facilitate their return if they express the desire to do so. The official added that they’re hopeful for some positive developments during the Ukrainian Foreign Minister’s visit.
However, the same official tempered expectations, suggesting that a complete resolution of the issue during the South Korea-Ukraine Foreign Ministers’ meeting is unlikely. The North Korean POW situation is one of several areas of cooperation with Ukraine. It’s working to expedite their return to South Korea, ideally in accordance with their own free will, the official explained. He cautioned that it’s premature to speculate on any announcements during the Ukrainian Foreign Minister’s visit. They’re actively working on the issue, but that’s all it can confirm at this time.
Two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine during the ongoing conflict have repeatedly expressed their desire to come to South Korea. The South Korean government maintains that North Korean residents are considered citizens under the constitution and will be accepted if their free will is confirmed.
The situation has become more complex since North Korea officially acknowledged its troop deployment to Russia, effectively becoming a party to the conflict. This raises the possibility that either North Korea or Russia might claim rights over these soldiers as POWs. In response, the United Nation (UN) Special Rapporteur on North Korean Human Rights and various international human rights organizations have argued that forcibly returning these soldiers to North Korea or Russia against their will would expose them to risks of persecution and punishment. They assert that the principle of non-refoulement should apply in this case.
While Russia and Ukraine have conducted several large-scale prisoner exchanges throughout the conflict, the North Korean soldiers have not been included in these swaps.