Human rights organizations are calling on Ukraine to allow two North Korean soldiers, captured earlier this year, to seek refuge in South Korea. These groups fear that repatriating the soldiers to North Korea would result in severe punishment, possibly execution.
In an open letter to Ukraine’s embassy in Seoul, the Transitional Justice Working Group, along with eight other organizations, highlighted the dangers of forced repatriation. They emphasized that returning the soldiers to North Korea would violate Article 45 of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they face harm.
The two soldiers were captured by Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. The soldiers were reportedly part of a larger group of North Korean forces sent to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has suggested that an exchange of these soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia could be a solution. However, activists argue that this move would breach international law.
Since 2024, North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to Russia, marking its largest military involvement abroad since the Korean War. These forces support Russia’s defensive positions and trench warfare, operating under false identities. Ukraine’s intelligence suggests that these troops face significant casualties. By January 2025, about 40% of North Korea’s deployed soldiers had been killed or wounded.
North Korea receives compensation for this military support, including oil exports from Russia and earnings from arms sales. A South Korean think tank estimates North Korea earned approximately $540 million in 2023 from arms deals, primarily with Russia.
Human rights groups argue that offering the captured soldiers asylum in South Korea could weaken Pyongyang’s support for Russia. South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon, who visited Ukraine in February, reported that one of the soldiers expressed a desire to defect. This highlights the growing disillusionment among North Korean troops involved in the war.
If Ukraine allows the defectors to seek refuge, it could encourage other North Korean soldiers to surrender, further undermining North Korea’s military efforts in Ukraine.
