Seoul: North Korean soldiers currently held captive in Ukraine were not part of the recent exchange of prisoners of war between Kyiv and Moscow, a South Korean lawmaker said Tuesday. Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party revealed that the two soldiers, surnamed Ri and Baek, were not included in the list of soldiers exchanged between Ukraine and Russia from Friday to Sunday, citing a Ukrainian source.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ukraine and Russia had previously agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each during negotiations in Istanbul, leading to speculation about whether the two North Koreans, captured by Ukrainian forces in January, would be part of the exchange. However, citing another source, Yu stated that the two were excluded from the latest exchange at Seoul's request to Kyiv, as South Korea is open to accepting them should they wish to defect.
Yu reported that during his visit to Ukraine in February, Ri expressed a desire to come to South Korea, fearing repercussions for his family if repatriated to North Korea. In an audio recording released by Yu, Ri voiced concerns about the potential execution of his parents should he return to North Korea in a prisoner swap.
Yu emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging the South Korean government to facilitate their defection to the South. Since October last year, North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to support Russian forces in the ongoing conflict.