North Korean Prisoners of War in Kyiv Request Transfer to South Korea

Two North Korean prisoners of war in Kyiv, who participated in the conflict against Ukraine led by Russia, have appealed to authorities, requesting their transfer to South Korea. This was reported by AFP, referencing a documentary filmed on October 28, in which the prisoners share their stories.

According to the source, one of the captives made such a request back in February, after being visited by a member of the South Korean National Assembly.

According to the South Korean intelligence agency, North Korean soldiers are generally instructed not to surrender and to commit suicide if there is a risk of capture. It has been noted that in the event of being injured, they often detonate themselves using grenades.

The same source estimates that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Ukraine in 2024 to support Russian troops, with approximately 2,000 of them having been killed in combat.