South Korea's Foreign Miinister Cho Hyun, right, shakes hands with Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, June 30, South Korea. Yonhap
The Russia-Ukraine war is now in its fourth year. What started with Russian aggression has wrought a multitude of changes in warfare and geopolitics, including rewnewed and rebalanced ties between Russia and North Korea, with North Korea lending soldiers and military support to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Some North Korean soldiers who fought and returned home were hailed as heroes. According to battlefield reports, some North Korean soldiers died by suicide to avoid capture.
However, two North Korean prisoners of war (POW) captured in January 2025 in Kursk, Ukraine are likely to face a different kind of return. The two have professed a desire to go to South Korea in interviews with media and with human rights groups, knowing that they will be in danger of persecution in North Korea.
They still remain in Ukraine, despite talks between Kyiv and Seoul.
It's time to expedite and translate oth Ukraine and South Korea's commitments pledges and follow international law. Ukraine has maintained that the fate of the POWs will be addressed following international humanitarian law and the Geneva convention. The principal of non-refoulement prohibits their involuntary return to North Korea. Seoul has expressed its willinness to accept the soldiers if they choose to come to South Korea.
