Rights Groups Appeal for North Korean POWs to Seek Refuge in South Korea

Human rights groups are urging Ukraine to allow North Korean POWs to seek refuge in South Korea due to the risk of execution upon repatriation. This follows Ukraine’s capture of North Korean soldiers in early 2024, emphasizing potential violations of international law. North Korea’s significant troop presence in Russia, tied to military cooperation and financial gains, adds to the urgency of the humanitarian appeal.

Human rights organizations are advocating for Ukraine to permit North Korean prisoners of war to seek refuge in South Korea instead of facing potential execution upon repatriation. In an open letter directed to Ukraine’s embassy in Seoul, the Transitional Justice Working Group, alongside eight other organizations, highlighted the grave risks facing these individuals, emphasizing that returning them to North Korea would likely result in severe punishment or death.

This appeal follows the capture of two North Korean soldiers by Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region in January. While Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has proposed exchanging the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia, activists caution that such a move would contravene Article 45 of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forced repatriation of individuals at risk of persecution.

According to intelligence reports, since 2024, North Korea has dispatched between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to Russia, indicative of Pyongyang’s largest overseas military engagement since the Korean War. This deployment aligns with the strengthening relationship between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, solidified during their June 2024 summit, which reportedly concluded with a mutual assistance agreement.

North Korean troops primarily act as light infantry, integrated into Russian units, often utilizing forged identities. Their role includes assuming defensive positions and supporting trench warfare, while high-ranking North Korean officers coordinate operations from the rear. Ukrainian intelligence has linked three North Korean generals to the ongoing conflict, including special forces commander Colonel General Kim Yong Bok.

The combat losses among the North Korean troops have been significant, with Ukrainian intelligence estimating that over 3,000 soldiers—approximately 40% of their initial force—were either killed or wounded by January 2025. Following a temporary withdrawal from the battlefield, North Korea reportedly dispatched an additional 3,500 soldiers for training in Russia’s Far East.

North Korea reaps considerable rewards for its military support, receiving increased oil and essential commodity exports from Russia. A think tank associated with South Korean intelligence estimated that North Korea generated approximately $540 million from arms exports in 2023, predominantly through sales to Russia.

Moreover, the Institute for the Study of War has identified the Ukraine conflict as a crucial opportunity for North Korea to evaluate its military capabilities against Western-supplied weaponry and acquire genuine combat experience. This collaboration also bolsters North Korea’s narrative against the West and may reshape strategic relations on the Korean Peninsula.

Such military cooperation contradicts U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, which forbids North Korea from exporting military assets or personnel. This deployment has drawn widespread international criticism and prompted renewed sanctions from both the United States and South Korea.

Human rights advocates contend that facilitating the defection of North Korean POWs could incentivize additional soldiers to surrender, potentially eroding Pyongyang’s support for Russia. South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon, who visited Ukraine in February, reported that one captured soldier expressed a clear desire to defect while the other remained ambivalent.

In conclusion, human rights organizations are urging Ukraine to protect North Korean prisoners of war from repatriation, which could lead to severe consequences in their homeland. The significant military collaboration between North Korea and Russia presents both strategic implications and humanitarian concerns. As the conflict continues, the situation of captured soldiers underscores the complexities of international law and human rights amidst warfare.

Original Source: www.dailynk.com