After being captured in Ukraine, two North Korean soldiers have openly stated that they do not wish to return to their homeland and instead want to build a new life in South Korea. Their position was made clear in a letter written in late October, in which they express their intention to defect and describe the emotional support they have received from South Koreans.
The document marks the first time the prisoners have conveyed this decision in their own words. In the letter, addressed to a Seoul-based human rights organization, the soldiers say that the encouragement they received allowed them to see their situation not as a tragedy, but as the beginning of a new chapter. They write of “new dreams and hopes” emerging from messages of solidarity and support, emphasizing that they no longer feel alone. In particularly emotional language, they describe the people of South Korea as “parents and brothers” and state that they have chosen to place themselves in their care.
The letter was delivered during an interview conducted in Kyiv as part of a documentary project coordinated by a non-governmental organization that supports North Korean defectors. According to those involved, the soldiers were shown video messages and letters from former North Korean defectors who successfully rebuilt their lives in the South. The aim was to give them reassurance and demonstrate that a future beyond the North Korean regime is possible.
Both soldiers signed the letter, reinforcing the seriousness of their intent. From a legal perspective, South Korea considers all North Koreans to be South Korean citizens under its constitution. The government in Seoul has reiterated that this principle also applies to soldiers captured abroad, potentially allowing the two men to be accepted should they be transferred from their current custody. This position, however, has long been a source of political and diplomatic friction with Pyongyang.
The case unfolds amid growing international scrutiny of North Korea’s role in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Intelligence assessments from South Korea and Western countries indicate that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to support Moscow, primarily in regions near the border. North Korea’s confirmation of this deployment earlier this year marked a significant escalation, and the fate of these two prisoners adds a human and political dimension to the country’s involvement in the conflict.
