On Monday, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers that two North Korean soldiers, captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting with Russian troops, do not want to live in South Korea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would give the soldiers back to North Korea if leader Kim Jong Un is willing to trade them for Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia. One of the North Korean soldiers wants to stay in Ukraine, but the other wants to go home.
Zelenskyy mentioned that there could be more North Korean prisoners in the future who might not want to return to their country. In a private meeting, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared information about these soldiers and said they would be open to discussing their future if they ask to come to South Korea.
Many North Koreans have come to South Korea to escape tough living conditions. About 34,000 have made the journey since the late 1990s. However, Koo Byoungsam, a spokesperson for South Korea’s government, said they would need to look at laws and talk to other countries before helping these soldiers.
The NIS believes around 300 North Korean soldiers have died, and about 2,700 have been hurt while fighting in Ukraine. This marks North Korea’s first major involvement in war since the Korean War of 1950-53. The agency explained that the North Koreans are having trouble using modern weapons and tactics and often suffer due to poor leadership from Russian commanders.
Some dead soldiers had directions to take their own lives if captured, showing the serious risks they faced. One soldier even tried to explode a grenade when he was about to be captured but was shot first.
Zelenskyy confirmed the capture of these soldiers shortly after Ukraine began new military actions in Kursk. This area is significant as it’s the first part of Russian land to be taken since World War II.
Experts believe North Korean soldiers are struggling in the Kursk area, which is very different from their mountainous homeland. They are also not working alone but under Russian commands, which complicates things for them. Many North Korean troops may not be well-prepared for such an unfamiliar mission.
Overall, there are worries in South Korea that these North Korean soldiers could learn important military skills that could pose a threat to South Korea in the future.
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