Two North Korean troopers captured by Ukrainian defence forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast in January have requested to be transferred to South Korea and reportedly tried to hurt themselves.
Supply: Barron's citing AFP and Yonhap
Particulars: The 2 prisoners of battle made the request to be despatched to South Korea throughout an interview for a documentary held on 28 October, Barron's reported.
"The 2 (POWs) requested the producer on the finish of the interview to take them to the South," mentioned Jang Se Yul, the top of an organisation that helps North Korean defectors and himself a defector from North Korea.
The video interview has not but been launched, however in line with Jang, it’s anticipated to be made public within the coming weeks.
Yonhap additionally quoted Jang as saying that each prisoners expressed a need to go to South Korea, a change from February, when solely one in every of them voiced such a want throughout a gathering with a South Korean lawmaker.
Images present {that a} jaw wound one in every of them sustained throughout seize has now healed, although some bone deformation stays.
It was additionally famous that hand-drawn portraits of North Korean chief Kim Jong Un have been hanging above one of many prisoners' beds.
The prisoners reportedly requested the producer to supply eye drugs, knitted garments, trousers, cigarettes, pens and books, Jang mentioned.
He additionally relayed statements from Ukrainian officers saying that the North Korean captives have been in a state of psychological instability and had tried self-harm.
Underneath South Korea's structure, all Koreans are considered residents, together with these residing in North Korea, and Seoul has said that this is applicable to any North Korean troopers captured in Ukraine. South Korea has knowledgeable the Ukrainian authorities of its readiness to simply accept the prisoners if their intentions are confirmed.
Background:
- On 11 January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Safety Service of Ukraine introduced that Ukrainian troopers had captured two North Korean servicemen in Russia's Kursk Oblast.
- Particular Operations Forces posted footage of the seize and evacuation of 1 North Korean soldier from Russia, whereas one other was proven by the Air Assault Forces.
- The Russian outlet Agentstvo.Novosti reported {that a} pretend army ID discovered on one of many captured North Koreans was issued within the identify of an actual resident of Russia's Tyva Republic.
- The captured soldier confirmed that he had been carrying falsified Russian paperwork.
- Zelenskyy later launched interrogation footage of the North Korean prisoners and mentioned Ukraine was ready to return them to their homeland as a part of a prisoner alternate with Russia.
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