Russian News
NUKEWARS
North Korean POWs in Ukraine want to go to South: activist
North Korean POWs in Ukraine want to go to South: activist
by AFP Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) Nov 2, 2025

Two North Korean prisoners of war held in Ukraine have pleaded to live in South Korea, a human rights organisation told AFP on Sunday.

The prisoners made the request during an interview for a documentary film that the organisation, Gyeore-eol Nation United, helped coordinate.

Around 10,000 North Korean troops were sent in 2024 to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies.

"The two (POWs) asked the producer at the end of the interview to take them to the South," said Jang Se-yul, head of the organisation which works with North Korean defectors.

The interview took place on October 28 at an undisclosed facility in Kyiv where the two POWs are being held after they were captured by Ukraine.

"They pleaded with the interviewer to promise she would return to bring them to the South," said Jang, himself a North Korean defector.

Under South Korea's constitution, all Koreans are considered citizens including those in the North, and Seoul has said this applies to any troops captured in Ukraine.

The video has not yet been made public but is expected to be released in the coming weeks, Jang said.

Photos provided by Jang's organisation show one POW reading letters from defectors now living in the South.

"We showed them video messages and letters from North Korean defectors to give them hope," Jang said.

One prisoner had already asked to live in South Korea when visited by one of the country's lawmakers in February.

North Korean soldiers are instructed to kill themselves rather than be taken prisoner, according to South Korea's intelligence service.

Yu Yong-weon, the lawmaker who met them, said the prisoners had witnessed injured comrades kill themselves with grenades.

Sending the soldiers back to the North would be "essentially a death sentence", Yu added.

Pyongyang only acknowledged deploying troops to support Russia's war in April, and admitted some had been killed.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has since met bereaved families and offered condolences for their "unbearable pain".

Around 2,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been killed in combat, Seoul's spy agency said in September.

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
NUKEWARS
Trump says 'timing' didn't work out to meet N. Korea's Kim
Gyeongju, South Korea (AFP) Oct 29, 2025
Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was not able to arrange a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the US president's visit to the South, ending fierce speculation over a possible summit. Trump had said he would "love to meet" Kim during his Asia trip, which would have been their first meeting since the US leader's previous term in the White House. North Korea has not responded publicly to the invitation. Just hours before Trump began a visit to South Korea, Pyongyang announced ... read more

NUKEWARS
Pentagon removing troops from Eastern Europe, focusing on other areas

Lt. Gen. Joe McGee retires amid alleged disagreements with Pentagon

Trump heads to South Korea with all eyes on Xi meeting

Trump orders nuclear testing resumption ahead of Xi talks

NUKEWARS
Studying war in the new nuclear age

Trump says he's ordered US to start nuclear weapons testing

Trump says 'timing' didn't work out to meet N. Korea's Kim

Putin defies Trump with second nuclear weapons test in days

NUKEWARS
China set to launch Shenzhou XXI crewed mission

China aims to lead international space science with new discoveries

China expands space capabilities with new lunar and deep space milestones

China marks milestone 600th Long March rocket launch

NUKEWARS
Unruffled by Trump, Chinese parents chase 'American dream' for kids

China dreams of football glory at last... in gaming

China's Communist Party begins major economic meetings

Chinese leaders to hash out strategic blueprint at key meeting

NUKEWARS
Floating hydrovoltaic device enables scalable and land-free raindrop energy harvesting

Scientists unlock new energy potential in iron-based materials

Amid renewable-energy boom, study explores options for electricity market

Robotic construction to streamline solar farm builds

NUKEWARS
NUKEWARS
Possible interference to space communications found as atmospheric CO2 rises

China sends advanced communications satellite into orbit

Airbus, Thales, Leonardo sign deal to create satellite powerhouse

SpaceX launches SpainSat communications satellite

NUKEWARS
Croatia reintroduces conscription to boost defence

Vance event honoring Marines criticized as a 'dangerous' show of force

Artillery shell detonates over California highway, striking patrol car

Lockheed Martin to Develop IFPC 2nd Interceptor for U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.