Two young North Korean soldiers, once deployed to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, have now made a public plea for a new life in South Korea. Their story, emerging from the shadows of war, has captured the attention of governments, human rights groups, and the broader international community—offering a rare glimpse into the personal toll of North Korea’s involvement in the ongoing conflict.
The saga began in January 2025, when Ukrainian forces captured the two men during fierce fighting in the Russian border region of Kursk. According to multiple reports, including from AFP and Yonhap, the soldiers—both in their early twenties—were among the thousands sent by Pyongyang to bolster Moscow’s military campaign. Their capture was publicly acknowledged by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who announced on social media that his troops had detained “two North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia.”
For months, speculation swirled about the fate and intentions of the prisoners. But in late October 2025, the men themselves broke their silence. In a heartfelt letter addressed to a human rights organization based in Seoul, the soldiers expressed their wish to defect to South Korea. The letter, later made available to AFP and other outlets in the week of December 22-25, 2025, marks the first time the men publicly articulated their desire to leave their homeland behind.
“We have decided to go to South Korea and regard the people there as our parents and brothers,” the letter reads, as reported by Yonhap. The two men thanked their supporters, writing, “Thank you for giving us courage and for seeing this situation not as a tragedy, but as the start of a new life.” They continued, “A new dream and new hopes have arisen, carried by the support of the people in the Republic of Korea.”
The letter was delivered during an interview for a documentary coordinated by the NGO Gyeore-eol Nation United, which supports North Korean defectors. The meeting took place in Kyiv, where the soldiers remain in Ukrainian custody. Jang Se Yul, the head of the NGO, told AFP in early November, “We showed them video messages and letters from North Korean defectors to give them hope.” The organization later passed the letter to the South Korean authorities and the press, ensuring the soldiers’ wishes were heard far beyond the confines of their cell.
The men’s plea comes against the backdrop of North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia. According to South Korean and Western intelligence, Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024, with most deployed in the Kursk border region. North Korea officially confirmed this deployment in April 2025, marking a significant escalation in its support for Moscow’s war effort. Some estimates place the total number of North Korean troops sent to Russia as high as 15,000 since October 2024, a figure cited by BILD and corroborated by other outlets.
For the two prisoners, the war has become more than just a battlefield assignment—it’s a crossroads. Their letter, dated to the end of October, reflects a profound shift in perspective. “We are firmly convinced that we are never alone, and we consider the people of South Korea as our own parents and siblings and have decided to entrust ourselves to them,” the soldiers wrote, echoing a sentiment that resonates with many defectors who have risked everything to escape the North.
The South Korean constitution, for its part, recognizes all North Koreans as citizens of the Republic of Korea. This legal framework means that, at least on paper, the two men are already South Korean nationals—even if their journey to Seoul is far from guaranteed. The government in Seoul has reiterated that this policy applies to North Koreans detained in Ukraine as well. In response to the letter, South Korean officials informed Ukrainian authorities of their willingness to accept the two prisoners, provided their wish to defect is unambiguously confirmed.
“We have informed Ukraine of our readiness to accept the two North Korean prisoners if their desire to defect is clearly established,” a South Korean official told Yonhap. The move underscores Seoul’s longstanding approach to North Korean defectors, who are often welcomed and given support to integrate into South Korean society.
The path forward, however, is fraught with uncertainty. The fate of North Korean POWs captured abroad is rarely straightforward, entangled as it is in the geopolitics of the Korean Peninsula, the war in Ukraine, and the interests of Russia. For Pyongyang, the defection of its soldiers—especially those fighting on foreign soil—represents a sensitive and potentially embarrassing episode. North Korea has so far made no public comment on the case, and it remains unclear how Moscow will respond to the prospect of releasing the men to a third country.
The involvement of NGOs like Gyeore-eol Nation United has been pivotal. Jang Se Yul, speaking to AFP, explained the group’s efforts to provide hope and support to North Koreans caught in limbo. “We have shown them that their situation is not a tragedy, but the beginning of a new life,” he said, emphasizing the importance of solidarity among defectors and their supporters.
The story of these two soldiers is emblematic of the broader struggle faced by North Korean defectors worldwide. While some find safe haven and new beginnings, others confront daunting obstacles—ranging from legal hurdles to the threat of forced repatriation. The South Korean government’s willingness to accept the men, if realized, would offer a powerful message of hope to others in similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine grinds on, with North Korea’s role as a key supporter of Moscow drawing increasing scrutiny from the international community. The deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to Russia marks one of the most significant foreign interventions by Pyongyang in recent memory, raising questions about the regime’s motivations and the human cost of its alliances.
As the world watches, the fate of these two young men hangs in the balance—a testament to the enduring power of hope, even in the darkest of times. Their letter, filled with gratitude and longing, may yet open a new chapter not just for themselves, but for others seeking freedom from the shadow of war and dictatorship.
Their story, unfolding at the crossroads of conflict and compassion, serves as a reminder that even in the midst of global turmoil, the voices of individuals can break through—and sometimes, just sometimes, dreams of a new life can take flight.
