South Korea ready to take DPRK soldiers captured by Ukraine

South Korea has expressed its readiness to repatriate North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces, should they request asylum. 

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong stated that, under the South Korean constitution, North Korean soldiers are considered citizens. Therefore, the government plans to discuss their transfer with Ukraine if they seek to defect.

However, Lee noted that the two captured North Korean soldiers have not expressed a desire to go to South Korea. Nonetheless, Seoul is maintaining communication with Kyiv regarding matters concerning these prisoners.

• On January 11, reports emerged that Ukrainian Defense Forces had captured two wounded North Korean soldiers during combat in Russia's Kursk region. The prisoners were transported to Kyiv, where they are being interviewed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated a willingness to exchange these North Korean prisoners for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia. He emphasized the significance of such exchanges in ongoing diplomatic efforts. 
• South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) has reported that approximately 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed, and 2,700 wounded, while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.