Camilla Jessen
North Korean troops captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine have asked to be handed over to South Korea.
Two captured North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have formally requested to be handed over to South Korea, according to reports by The Moscow Times and AFP citing the South Korean human rights group Gyeore-eol Nation United.
The request was made during an interview for an upcoming documentary, filmed on Oct. 28 in Kyiv, where the two prisoners of war are currently being held.
One of the soldiers had previously made a similar plea in February during a visit by a South Korean parliamentary representative.
Human rights experts and South Korean intelligence have repeatedly warned that returning defected North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang would amount to a death sentence.
National Assembly member Yoo Young-weon emphasized that captured soldiers are often expected to commit suicide rather than be taken alive, making repatriation a near-certain execution.
Estimates from Western and South Korean intelligence suggest up to 10,000 North Korean troops could be deployed to Ukraine in 2024.
In September, South Korean officials reported that approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers had already died in the conflict.
In a late October update, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that North Korean troops were aiding Russian forces in operating multiple rocket launchers against Ukrainian positions in the Sumy region, following earlier infantry deployments in Kursk.
The UK believes North Korea is using the war to gain real combat experience and enhance its military capabilities.
