Seoul's diplomatic dilemma over North Korean POWs
During the U.N General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise announcement. In his speech on Sept. 23, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has sent two North Korean prisoners of war (POW) to South Korea, in accordance with the prisoners’ wishes. The South Korean government expressed displeasure, protesting that Ukraine violated an agreement to keep the transfer…
At the U.N General Assembly on September 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprising announcement. He revealed that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, as per the POWs' desires. The South Korean government reacted indignantly, asserting that Ukraine had broken a confidentiality agreement concerning the transfer.
This has sparked a diplomatic conflict over the existence of the supposed agreement, stirring debate within South Korea about the government's justification in attempting to evade the disclosure of the transfer. South Korea has a long-standing tradition of receiving North Korean defectors, legally recognizing them as South Korean citizens.
Following the Korean War, President Syngman Rhee released over 27,000 North Korean prisoners who refused to return to the North, permitting them to remain in South Korea. North Korean soldiers, diplomats, and civilians have continued to defect to the South through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), maritime borders, or via third countries. Even progressive South Korean administrations have welcomed these defectors.
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- Seoul's diplomatic dilemma over North Korean POWs koreatimes.co.kr
