North Korean Soldier Captured in Ukraine Seeks Normal Life in South Korea
A South Korean lawmaker reported that a captured North Korean soldier wishes to live a “normal life” in South Korea. The soldier expressed hopes to reunite with his family and have a home. Under South Korean law, captured North Korean soldiers are recognized as citizens entitled to protection. Extremely, returning them to North Korea could lead to their demise, given the orders they follow there.
On Tuesday, a South Korean lawmaker reported that a North Korean soldier, captured by Ukrainian forces, expressed a desire to live a “normal life” in South Korea. Following South Korea’s offer of citizenship to captured North Korean troops, the National Intelligence Service previously confirmed that Ukraine had captured two of the estimated 10,000 North Korean soldiers sent by Kim Jong Un to assist Russia in its campaign against Ukraine.
Lawmaker Yu Yong-weon met with the two soldiers, currently held in a detention facility in Ukraine, after obtaining permission from Ukrainian authorities. He described his emotional response upon seeing the soldiers and highlighted one soldier’s aspiration to relocate to South Korea to reunite with his family.
During their conversation, the North Korean soldier inquired about the possibility of living freely in South Korea, expressing hopes for rights, a home, and starting a family. According to South Korean law, all Koreans, including those from the North, are recognized as citizens, enabling their protection as prisoners of war.
Lawmaker Yu emphasized that returning these soldiers to North Korea would likely result in a “death sentence,” as North Korean military directives compel troops to take their own lives rather than be captured. He also noted the distressing reality that captured North Korean soldiers have witnessed fellow comrades committing suicide.
It is important to acknowledge that even as prisoners of war, these individuals merit protection under South Korean law. In a historical context, South Korea expelled two North Korean fishermen in 2019, marking the first such transfer since the Korean War. However, images resurfacing later illustrated the struggles one of the men faced during transfer, highlighting the complexities surrounding North Korean defectors.
The revelation about the North Korean soldier’s wishes underscores the perilous conditions faced by troops sent to fight in Ukraine. South Korea’s constitutional recognition of all Koreans as citizens requires the nation to safeguard their rights. The stark realities shared by these soldiers about the North Korean military climate emphasize the life-and-death decisions they must confront, and the urgency of humanitarian considerations must remain at the forefront of discussions regarding their future.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
