North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia were not part of Ukraine’s recent prisoner-of-war exchange with Moscow, South Korean lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum said on May 28, citing Ukrainian sources, Yonhap reported.
Two North Koreans, identified by the surnames Ri and Baek, were not included in the May 24–26 exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, according to the lawmaker. Kyiv reportedly excluded them at the request of Seoul, which has expressed readiness to accept the soldiers if they seek asylum in South Korea.
“Ri fears a tragic fate for himself and his parents if he is repatriated to North Korea,” Yoo said, urging the South Korean government to act to facilitate their safe transfer.
On May 25, Ukraine returned 303 more Ukrainian servicemen from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, marking the third and final part of the agreed 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap mediated by Türkiye.
The day before, 307 Ukrainian POWs were released during the second stage of the exchange with Russia.
According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the freed soldiers include members of the Armed Forces, Air Assault Forces, Naval Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Drone Systems Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. Some were freed from Russian captivity for the first time, including 27 defenders of Mariupol.
On May 23, Ukraine returned home 390 more captives — 270 soldiers and 120 civilians.
According to reports from South Korean intelligence and U.S. defense officials, North Korea has deployed approximately 14,000 to 15,000 troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. These deployments occurred in two phases, with initial estimates from the Pentagon indicating around 10,000 troops, and subsequent reinforcements bringing the total to about 14,000 to 15,000 soldiers.
The North Korean troops, primarily from elite units such as the “Storm Corps,” have been engaged in frontline combat, particularly in Russia’s Kursk region. Due to their lack of experience with modern warfare tactics and technologies, they have suffered significant casualties. Estimates suggest that approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed, with total casualties (including wounded) reaching around 4,700.
In exchange for this support, North Korea is reportedly receiving military and technological assistance from Russia, including advancements in satellite and missile technologies.
This deployment marks a significant escalation in North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict and has raised concerns among international observers about the deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
