On March 17, 2025, South Korean and Ukrainian diplomats engaged in talks concerning the potential repatriation of two North Korean soldiers captured during the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, about the captured Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) soldiers being considered for transfer.
Cho emphasized the unique constitutional stance of South Korea during the discussions, noting, "Under South Korea's Constitution, North Koreans are considered South Korean citizens, but the prisoners must express a desire to relocate." This highlights the complex nature of the negotiations, as the captured soldiers' willingness to seek asylum is pivotal for their potential resettlement.
The impetus for involving North Korean soldiers arose after significant troop deployment by Pyongyang to support Russian military efforts against Ukraine, particularly as Russia faced drastic manpower shortages. Estimates suggest around 12,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia's Kursk Oblast last fall, during which Ukraine mounted cross-border incursions. The outcome has been brutal; as of early January, Ukrainian intelligence had indicated over 4,000 North Korean soldiers had suffered casualties, with two-thirds of those estimated to be killed, as noted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine captured the two North Korean soldiers alive on January 11, 2025, marking the first time North Korean personnel have been caught and survived; they received medical care and were placed under the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Two weeks earlier, Ukrainian forces had captured another North Korean soldier, who later succumbed to injuries.
Seoul has been involved with North Korean affairs for decades, having accepted around 34,000 defectors since the late 1990s. This provides historical precedence for the current situation but also presents diplomatic risks. While offering to accept the two soldiers could strengthen South Korea's humanitarian image and bolster its stance against any possible retaliatory actions from the North, it could undermine relationships with both North Korea and Russia.
Cho's willingness to take the North Korean soldiers hinges on their expressed desire to defect. The National Intelligence Agency of South Korea has indicated, at least as of January, the captured soldiers had not expressed intentions to seek asylum in South Korea, complicate the situation. There is concern of additional troop deployments from North Korea to Russia, with indications they were preparing to send even more soldiers after notable casualties.
On the frontline, North Korean troops have reportedly played pivotal roles, as Ukrainian official Andriy Kovalenko remarked on their assault tactics, stating, "they are storming the frontlines in 'columns.'" This acknowledgment of their presence and effectiveness adds tension to the conflict and raises severe security concerns for neighboring countries.
Ukraine’s public statements reflect the dire situation of the North Korean military, which appears to be facing unprecedented losses due to their combat strategies and experience level. Analysts suggest the high casualty rates might be attributable to their limited engagement experience, which often leads to catastrophic outcomes on the battlefield, especially when deployed to bolster Russian forces through human wave tactics.
Discussing the matter on the social media platform X, Sybiha expressed gratitude for the partnership with South Korea and outlined the necessity of addressing the expansive cooperation between Russia and North Korea, framing it as detrimental to security across Europe, the Korean Peninsula, and the Indo-Pacific regions.
After discussions, whether the North Korean soldiers will express any intent to relocate remains uncertain. This lack of response could imply either hesitance to become pawns within international negotiations or potential strategies being employed by North Korea to draw additional leverage.
Meanwhile, it’s important to point out dissenting voices surrounding the matter. Yeonmi Park, a North Korean defector and vocal critic, tweeted about the situation, accusing Ukraine of violating international law by linking the prisoners' repatriation to arms trading, underscoring the delicate balance of humanitarian concerns versus strategic military dealings.
Zelensky himself commented on the difficult circumstances surrounding the capture of North Korean personnel, stating, "This was not an easy task: Russian forces and other North Korean military personnel usually execute their wounded to erase any evidence of North Korea's involvement... Our soldiers have captured North Korean military personnel..." This highlights the level of risk involved, not only for Ukrainian forces but also for the captured soldiers themselves.
Moving forward, the simplicity or complexity of the decision-making process will likely impact not only the captured soldiers’ fate but also the broader geopolitical climate. North Korea's current silence on the South Korean proposal is notable — it marks another chapter of the multifaceted relationship poignantly shaped by decades of tension, attempting to redefine alliances and humanitarian ideologies amid warfare.
With no word yet from North Korea on its stance concerning the potential acceptance of its defeated soldiers, the situation is rife with uncertain dynamics, potentially reflective of broader intentions, strategies, or allegiances as the circumstances continue to evolve.
