On March 4, a South Korean lawmaker stated that a North Korean soldier captured in Ukraine desires a normal life in South Korea. This follows South Korea’s commitment to granting citizenship to captured North Korean troops. Lawmaker Yu Yong-weon shared that one soldier hopes to reunite with his family in the South.
On March 4, a South Korean lawmaker revealed that a North Korean soldier captured in Ukraine expressed a desire to lead a ‘normal life’ in South Korea. This statement follows South Korea’s commitment to granting citizenship to North Korean troops. The National Intelligence Service announced in January that two of the approximately 10,000 North Koreans sent by Kim Jong Un to fight alongside Russia were in Ukrainian custody.
Lawmaker Yu Yong-weon described his emotional meeting with the captured soldiers, who are currently being detained in an undisclosed location. During a press conference, Mr. Yu shared that one soldier expressed a wish to move to South Korea to reunite with his family. The soldier inquired whether he would have the opportunity to live freely, acquire rights, and establish a home and family in South Korea.
According to the South Korean Constitution, all Koreans, including those from the North, are regarded as citizens, a principle that applies to any troops captured abroad. Mr. Yu further emphasized that returning the soldiers to North Korea would likely result in their death, as North Korean troops are reportedly instructed to commit suicide if they face capture. He noted that the soldiers he met had witnessed their comrades taking such drastic actions.
Mr. Yu reiterated that North Korean soldiers, even when classified as prisoners of war, are still recognized as South Korean citizens and deserve protection under the law. He referenced a past incident in 2019 when South Korea expelled two North Korean men involved in the killing of their fellow crewmates, marking the first known repatriation of North Koreans since the Korean War. Images later emerged showing one individual resisting the transfer.
In summary, the plight of North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine raises crucial issues regarding their treatment and status under South Korean law. The acknowledgement of their citizenship rights by South Korean officials highlights the complexities of the Korean conflict. The statements by lawmaker Yu Yong-weon shed light on the soldiers’ desire for a different life away from the oppressive North Korean regime.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
