South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyon and his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha held “constructive” talks in Seoul on Tuesday about the fate of two North Korean soldiers fighting on the side of Russia who were captured by Ukrainian troops in January 2025. TASR informs about it based on the AFP report.
- The South Korean and Ukrainian ministers are solving the fate of two captured North Korean soldiers.
- Both diplomatic missions declare a procedure in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles.
- North Korea and Russia are demanding repatriation, but face severe penalties.
- Seoul says the soldiers are citizens of one Republic of Korea under the constitution.
- Intelligence sources report thousands of North Korean casualties and suicide orders.
A spokesman for the South Korean ministry declared that the heads of diplomacy will be guided by “international law and humanitarian principles” in this matter.
Prisoner of War Agreement
“The government will continue diplomatic efforts to move forward and resolve this issue of North Korean POWs,” the spokesman added.
Sybiha wrote on the X social network that he and a South Korean departmental colleague had “detailed” discussions about these North Korean soldiers, as well as how to proceed in this matter with respect for international humanitarian law. According to him, the topic of the talks was also their common “challenges stemming from deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang”.
Repatriation and concerns
North Korea and Russia are demanding the repatriation of the pair of soldiers, but rights groups and experts have warned they could be punished if they return to the DPRK.
The soldiers asked to be sent to South Korea, which would constitute a defection, according to AFP. Seoul is demanding their transfer on the grounds that they are citizens of a single Republic of Korea as defined by the constitution.
Korea’s technical war
South and North Korea are technically still at war, as the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The countries are divided by the demilitarized zone, but South Korea considers the entire Korean peninsula as one country.
North Korea is estimated to have sent around 14,000 troops to the Kursk region to help Russia against Ukrainian troops. South Korean, Ukrainian and Western officials say they have suffered heavy casualties in the fighting.
Suicide orders?
Citing the Ukrainian military intelligence service, the Kyiv Independent wrote that more than 7,000 DPRK soldiers were killed or wounded during the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. AFP reported that reports emerged that North Korean officials allegedly ordered soldiers to commit suicide if captured.
