South Korea has announced its readiness to accept all North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine if they wish to come. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Reuters.
According to a statement from South Korea's defense ministry, the country is prepared to accept North Korean soldiers captured during the conflict in Ukraine, provided they express a desire to relocate to South Korea. The decision is based on humanitarian principles and respect for the prisoners' right to make a voluntary choice.
A ministry official stated that South Korea adheres to international humanitarian law and allows prisoners the option to return to their home country or move to another nation of their choosing. The exact number of North Korean POWs in Ukraine is currently unknown, but South Korea plans to handle each case individually.
This announcement comes amid heightened tensions between South and North Korea. Pyongyang has not officially commented on its involvement in the Ukraine conflict, but there are reports of its military cooperation with Russia.