South Korea and Ukraine are discussing the potential repatriation of captured North Korean soldiers. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has stated that the country is ready to accept two soldiers if they express the desire to relocate. Recent interviews with the captives revealed their roles in North Korea’s military intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
Discussions between South Korea and Ukraine have been initiated regarding the repatriation of North Korean soldiers who have been captured by Ukrainian forces. These talks were reported by Yonhap, a prominent South Korean news agency. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul communicated with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiha, to explore the possibility of repatriation.
Minister Cho mentioned that South Korea is prepared to accept two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) should they express a desire to move to South Korea. Initial reports on the consultations between the two nations surfaced in January 2025, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic engagement on this issue. South Korea’s constitution recognizes the entire Korean Peninsula as its territory, which implies that all North Korean residents are considered South Korean citizens.
As of yet, no captured soldiers have indicated a wish to transfer to South Korea. Meanwhile, interviews conducted with the North Korean soldiers were published by the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo on February 19. The captured soldiers, identified as Ri, a 26-year-old sniper-reconnaissance officer, and Baek, a 21-year-old rifleman, asserted they serve in the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) rather than the previously mentioned 11th “Storm” Corps.
The RGB is the military intelligence agency of North Korea. While the precise unit affiliations of the captured soldiers remain unclear, the RGB is known to encompass units 180, 91, and 525. Moreover, it is plausible that certain RGB intelligence units have been reassigned to special operations forces due to military restructuring during the conflict in the Kursk oblast.
In conclusion, South Korea and Ukraine are actively discussing the repatriation of captured North Korean soldiers, with South Korea indicating its readiness to accept two POWs if they choose to relocate. Interviews with these soldiers indicate their affiliation with the RGB, rather than the special operations forces as previously speculated. These developments highlight ongoing diplomatic efforts and the complexities involved in the repatriation process.
Original Source: mil.in.ua
