Human rights groups are urging Ukraine to allow captured North Korean soldiers to seek refuge in South Korea, warning that their return will lead to execution. This follows Ukraine’s capture of two soldiers in January. Increased military cooperation between North Korea and Russia poses serious humanitarian and geopolitical implications, including potential violations of U.N. sanctions.
Human rights organizations are urging the Ukrainian government to permit captured North Korean soldiers to seek refuge in South Korea, as a repatriation to North Korea could result in execution or severe punishment. In a letter to the Ukrainian embassy in Seoul, the Transitional Justice Working Group and eight other organizations highlighted that such actions would contravene Article 45 of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forced repatriation of those facing persecution.
This appeal comes after Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region of Russia in January. Although President Zelenskyy has proposed the idea of exchanging these soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia, activists warn that this approach lacks consideration for the potential human rights violations involved.
Recent intelligence reports indicate that North Korea has dispatched approximately 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia since 2024, marking their most significant military engagement abroad since the Korean War. This deployment reflects the strengthening ties between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, particularly following their June 2024 summit, where they are believed to have signed a mutual assistance agreement.
The North Korean forces are reported to function mainly as light infantry within Russian units, utilizing forged identities to conceal their true origins. They are tasked with defensive operations and trench warfare, under the coordination of high-ranking North Korean officers, including three identified generals, such as Colonel General Kim Yong Bok.
Ukrainian intelligence estimates indicate severe combat losses among the North Korean troops, with over 3,000 casualties recorded by January 2025. Following a temporary withdrawal from combat, another wave of 3,500 North Korean soldiers has reportedly been sent to train in Russia’s Far East.
In exchange for military assistance, North Korea is receiving significant compensation from Russia, which includes an increase in oil and commodity exports. A think tank affiliated with South Korean intelligence estimated that North Korea profited approximately $540 million from arms exports in 2023, primarily from transactions with Russia.
The Institute for the Study of War observes that North Korea perceives the conflict in Ukraine as an essential opportunity for its military to gain practical combat experience against Western-supplied systems. This alliance not only reinforces North Korea’s anti-Western sentiment but also carries the potential to alter strategic dynamics in the Korean Peninsula.
Moreover, this military collaboration contravenes U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, which forbids North Korea from exporting armed forces or military equipment. The situation has prompted widespread international condemnation and new sanctions from the United States and South Korea.
Human rights advocates contend that permitting North Korean POWs to defect could encourage further surrenders, potentially weakening 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 uncertain about their intentions.
In conclusion, human rights organizations are pressing Ukraine to allow North Korean POWs to seek asylum in South Korea as a means of preventing potential execution upon repatriation. The military alliance between North Korea and Russia marks a critical point in international relations, raising serious humanitarian concerns while potentially shifting the balance of power in the region. Allowing defection may serve as a strategic advantage against North Korea’s support for Russia, thus influencing future military engagements.
Original Source: www.dailynk.com
