N. Korean POWs in Ukraine not included in Kyiv-Moscow prisoner swap: lawmaker

Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party speaks to one of the North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine, March 4. Courtesy of Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office

North Korean soldiers currently held captive in Ukraine were not part of the recent exchange of prisoners of war between Kyiv and Moscow, a South Korean lawmaker said Tuesday.

Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party said the two soldiers, surnamed Ri and Baek, respectively, were not included in the list of soldiers exchanged between Ukraine and Russia from Friday to Sunday, citing a Ukrainian source.

Earlier this month, Ukraine and Russia agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war each during talks in Istanbul, raising questions as to whether the two North Koreans, captured by Ukrainian forces in January, could be part of the exchange.

Citing another source, Yu said they were not included in the latest exchange at Seoul's request to Kyiv, as South Korea is willing to accept them if they wish to defect to the South. Among the two, Ri has expressed his intention to come to South Korea.

Yu met the two during his visit to Ukraine in February. In an audio recording released by the lawmaker, Ri expressed concern over his parents possibly being executed if he goes back to North Korea in a prisoner swap.

"(Ri) is anticipating a tragic end for himself and his parents if he is repatriated to North Korea," Yu said, urging the South Korean government to make efforts to enable them to come to the South.

Since October last year, North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces in the war.