Seoul moves on North Korean POW transfer

The government plans to discuss the transfer to South Korea of two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces when Ukraine's foreign minister visits Seoul on June 30. The two soldiers, identified only by their surnames, Lee and Paek, were captured on the Kursk front in January last year while fighting for Russia. Their long-delayed transfer now appears within reach. Since the Foreign Ministry has already announced that it has reached a basic understanding with Ukraine, the government should move swiftly to complete the process and ensure their safe arrival.

Both prisoners have repeatedly and publicly expressed their wish to come to South Korea. Although they initially hesitated out of concern for family members who remain in North Korea, they ultimately chose defection. One of the soldiers told a media outlet, "If I am not taken to South Korea, the only option left for me is death." His words were not simply a request for asylum but a desperate appeal to save his life.

The circumstances facing North Korean troops help explain that fear. Pyongyang is believed to have instructed deployed soldiers not to allow themselves to be captured. Reports from the battlefield suggest that some have taken their own lives rather than become prisoners. If these two men are returned to North Korea, it is not difficult to imagine the punishment they could face.

Under South Korea's Constitution, North Korean soldiers are regarded as citizens of the Republic of Korea, and protecting their safety is therefore a responsibility of the state. International law also requires that their wishes be respected. The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals against their will to places where their lives or freedom would be at risk, is a cornerstone of international human rights law. International human rights organizations have likewise urged that the prisoners' right to self-determination be protected.

Ukraine's decision not to hand the prisoners over to Russia so far reflects these humanitarian principles. Yet there is no guarantee the current situation will continue indefinitely. Ukraine is also seeking the return of its own prisoners of war held by Russia, and future prisoner exchanges could complicate the issue.

North Korea and Russia have repeatedly demanded that Ukraine return the captured North Korean soldiers. That reality may create diplomatic pressure for Seoul as well. Even so, humanitarian principles should not be subordinated to diplomatic convenience. Respecting fundamental rights and managing foreign relations are separate matters. Sending people back to a place where they face grave danger after they have clearly expressed a desire to live would violate both international law and basic human decency. The government should ensure that the two North Korean prisoners are allowed to come to South Korea without further delay.