North Korean POW Expresses Desire for Normal Life in South Korea
A South Korean lawmaker revealed on March 4 that a North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine wishes to secure a ‘normal life’ in South Korea, following the country’s promise to grant citizenship to captured North Koreans. This soldier expressed hopes to reunite with family and questioned his rights in South Korea. The constitutional recognition of North Koreans as South Korean citizens adds urgency to their protection, especially given the death sentences they may face if returned home.
On March 4, a South Korean lawmaker reported that a North Korean soldier captured in Ukraine expressed a desire for a “normal life” in South Korea. This development follows Seoul’s commitment to grant citizenship to North Korean troops. In January, the National Intelligence Service confirmed that Ukrainian forces had captured two of approximately 10,000 North Koreans deployed by leader Kim Jong Un to support Russian efforts in the ongoing conflict against Ukraine.
Lawmaker Yu Yong-weon was able to meet the detained soldiers after submitting a request to authorities in Kyiv. At a press conference, he conveyed the profound emotions he felt upon meeting them, describing feelings of compassion and empathy. One soldier communicated his aspiration to relocate to South Korea to reunite with his family, questioning whether he would be able to “live as I wish with the rights I hope for” and whether he could “have a home and start a family” in South Korea.
Under South Korea’s Constitution, all individuals of Korean descent, including those in North Korea, are recognized as citizens. Officials have reaffirmed that this status extends to any North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine. Lawmaker Yu emphasized that returning these soldiers to North Korea would likely result in a death sentence, as South Korean intelligence reports indicate that such troops are often instructed to commit suicide rather than face capture.
Yu also recounted the harrowing experiences shared by the soldiers, who reported witnessing multiple suicides among injured comrades. He reiterated the constitutional obligation to protect North Korean soldiers, stating, “Even as prisoners of war, North Korean soldiers are constitutionally recognised as South Korean citizens and must be protected accordingly.”
In a historical context, a significant 2019 case involved the expulsion of two North Korean men from South Korea, who had been accused of murdering their crewmates before defecting. This event marked the first transfer from South to North Korea since the Korean War, with images later revealing one man resisting the handover.
The statement from South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon emphasizes the desperate circumstances faced by North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine, juxtaposed with South Korea’s commitment to recognizing them as citizens. The tragic reality of their potential fate underscores the gravity of this situation, while highlighting South Korea’s constitutional obligation to provide protection and rights to all Koreans, regardless of their location.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
