A North Korean prisoner of war in Ukraine has said he wants to defect to South Korea, prompting a South Korean lawmaker to call for his protection and safe passage.
Yu Yong-weon, a parliamentarian from South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, met with two captured North Korean soldiers on February 25, recording an hour-long interview with them.
The conversation, played at a press conference on Tuesday, revealed their uncertainty and fear over returning to North Korea.
North Korea, a key ally of Moscow, has reportedly sent around 10,000 troops to support Russian forces.
One of the POWs, a 26-year-old sniper identified only by his surname Ri, suffers severe jaw and arm injuries and was heard saying: “I really want to go to South Korea.”
During the conversation, Ri asked Yu: “If I go to South Korea, will I be able to live as I wish with the rights I hope for? Will I be able to have a home and a family?” He also expressed a deep desire to see his parents again.
In an earlier interview with The Wall Street Journal, Ri revealed he was initially misled into believing he would be fighting South Korean soldiers, not Ukrainians.
The second captive, 20-year-old rifleman Paik, was conscripted as a teenager into North Korea’s military.
Speaking with Yu, he admitted he had “almost made up (his) mind” about defecting but remained uncertain due to the risks.
“Being captured by the enemy is considered a betrayal to our own country,” he said, explaining his hesitation.
Yu urged the South Korean government to protect the two soldiers, warning that sending them back to North Korea would seal their fate.
“Repatriating these soldiers to North Korea would be a death sentence,” Yu said, adding that they would face dire consequences upon return.
According to Yu, Ri and Paik are the only known North Korean POWs in Ukraine.
Yu’s visit to Ukraine came at the invitation of Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Nikolayenko as part of the Yalta European Strategy conference, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities estimate that approximately 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in combat.
The conversation, played at a press conference on Tuesday, revealed their uncertainty and fear over returning to North Korea.
North Korea, a key ally of Moscow, has reportedly sent around 10,000 troops to support Russian forces.
North Korean soldier pleads for safe defection
One of the POWs, a 26-year-old sniper identified only by his surname Ri, suffers severe jaw and arm injuries and was heard saying: “I really want to go to South Korea.”
During the conversation, Ri asked Yu: “If I go to South Korea, will I be able to live as I wish with the rights I hope for? Will I be able to have a home and a family?” He also expressed a deep desire to see his parents again.
In an earlier interview with The Wall Street Journal, Ri revealed he was initially misled into believing he would be fighting South Korean soldiers, not Ukrainians.
Second POW donsiders defection, fears repercussions
The second captive, 20-year-old rifleman Paik, was conscripted as a teenager into North Korea’s military.
Speaking with Yu, he admitted he had “almost made up (his) mind” about defecting but remained uncertain due to the risks.
“Being captured by the enemy is considered a betrayal to our own country,” he said, explaining his hesitation.
South Korean lawmaker: ‘Repatriation would be a death sentence’
Yu urged the South Korean government to protect the two soldiers, warning that sending them back to North Korea would seal their fate.
“Repatriating these soldiers to North Korea would be a death sentence,” Yu said, adding that they would face dire consequences upon return.
According to Yu, Ri and Paik are the only known North Korean POWs in Ukraine.
Yu’s visit to Ukraine came at the invitation of Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Nikolayenko as part of the Yalta European Strategy conference, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities estimate that approximately 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in combat.
Source: The Korea Times, The Korea Heralds
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