Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces after being deployed to support Russia have been unable to return to South Korea for over a year. Intelligence sources suggest that Russia’s proposal for a prisoner exchange is behind this delay.
On Wednesday, diplomatic and security insiders revealed that during his recent visit to South Korea, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with officials from the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He disclosed that Russia had proposed releasing the two North Korean prisoners in exchange for the liberation of thousands of Ukrainian citizens currently held by Russian forces.
At present, two North Korean soldiers remain in Ukrainian custody after being captured while fighting alongside Russian troops. They publicly expressed their desire to return to South Korea through media interviews in early 2022. The South Korean government has consistently stated its willingness to accommodate their return if they voluntarily express such a desire.
However, Ukraine faces a strategic dilemma. The North Korean soldiers potentially represent valuable bargaining chips in negotiations for the release of thousands of Ukrainian citizens. This complicates Ukraine’s decision-making process regarding the fate of these North Korean prisoners.
Minister Sybiha also addressed the issue of the North Korean prisoners during talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin. Both nations agreed to continue seeking solutions that align with international law and humanitarian principles.
While South Korea maintains its commitment to accepting North Korean soldiers who wish to return, officials indicate that facilitating their return through prisoner exchanges or negotiations involving concessions would be problematic and challenging.