The foreign ministers of South Korea and Ukraine have agreed to address the situation of two North Korean soldiers captured during the Russia-Ukraine conflict following international law and humanitarian principles. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, deliberated on the matter of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) during their meeting in France on the sidelines of a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers’ gathering.
Two North Korean soldiers were taken into custody by Ukrainian forces in January last year while supporting Russia in combat, as reported by Yonhap news agency. South Korea has expressed readiness to accept them through discussions with Ukraine, as the POWs have indicated a preference to relocate to South Korea instead of returning to their home country.
Cho informed a parliamentary session in Seoul on March 6 that Ukraine has guaranteed the non-repatriation of the two North Korean soldiers to Russia, amid fears of potential coercion if sent back to the North. Additionally, Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party revealed after a visit to Ukraine that Russia had listed the two soldiers among the detainees it sought to be released in a POW swap.
In a separate development, Cho participated in the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting near Paris to engage in discussions on maritime security and global issues. He also engaged in one-on-one discussions with foreign ministers from eight nations, including the United States and France. The foreign ministers of South Korea, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine were present at this year’s G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, alongside the G7 member states: the US, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Canada.
