Human Rights Groups Urge Ukraine to Grant Asylum to North Korean POWs

Human rights organizations are urging Ukraine to allow captured North Korean soldiers to seek refuge in South Korea due to fears of severe repercussions if repatriated. The call follows Ukraine’s capture of two soldiers, with concerns over compliance with the Geneva Convention. North Korea has dispatched significant military support to Russia, posing both humanitarian and geopolitical challenges.

Human rights organizations have urged Ukraine to permit North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to seek asylum in South Korea, as their repatriation could result in harsh penalties or execution in North Korea. In an open letter to Ukraine’s embassy in Seoul, nine organizations, including the Transitional Justice Working Group, highlighted the grave risks associated with returning these individuals to their homeland.

The appeal coincides with the recent capture of two North Korean soldiers by Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region. While President Zelenskyy has suggested exchanging these soldiers for Ukrainian POWs held by Russia, activists assert this would contravene Article 45 of the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forced repatriation of those facing persecution.

Since 2024, North Korea has allegedly dispatched between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to Russia, marking the country’s most significant military involvement abroad since the Korean War. This troop deployment aligns with the strengthening cooperation between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, formalized by a mutual assistance agreement signed during their June 2024 summit.

Operating primarily as light infantry, these North Korean soldiers have been integrated into Russian military units under false identities. They are engaged in defensive roles while high-ranking North Korean officers coordinate from the rear, with three generals identified by Ukrainian intelligence as integral to this military effort.

Combat losses among North Korean troops are estimated to be severe, with Ukrainian intelligence reporting over 3,000 fatalities or injuries among their ranks by January 2025. Following a brief withdrawal, an additional 3,500 North Korean soldiers have reportedly been sent to Russia for training.

In return for its military support, North Korea benefits from increased oil and commodity exchanges with Russia. Additionally, a South Korean intelligence think tank has estimated that North Korea accrued approximately $540 million from arms deals in 2023, largely stemming from sales to Russia.

The conflict in Ukraine presents North Korea with a strategic opportunity to enhance its military capabilities, providing a platform to test weapons against those supplied by Western nations and to gain experiential combat knowledge. This military collaboration undermines existing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874 prohibiting North Korea’s arms exports and has sparked international backlash and further sanctions from the United States and South Korea.

Human rights advocates argue that permitting North Korean POWs to defect may drive more soldiers to surrender, potentially weakening Pyongyang’s support for Russia. Reports from South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon indicate that at least one captured soldier expressed a wish to defect, while the other remains uncertain.

The appeals from human rights groups to Ukraine symbolize a critical intersection of military conflict and human rights advocacy. The situation reflects the broader implications of North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict, prompting discussions on international obligations concerning POWs and strategic military dynamics. The evolving relationship between North Korea and Russia underlines the need for clear protocols in safeguarding human rights amidst geopolitical conflicts.

Original Source: www.dailynk.com