Two North Korean prisoners captured by Ukraine are requesting to be transferred to South Korea, seeking a normal life, after having fought for Russia, as a return to Pyongyang could mean a death sentence.

Two North Korean prisoners of war, captured by Ukraine while fighting for Russia, have requested to be taken to South Korea. They made the request during an interview for a documentary, conducted in a secret location in Kyiv, where they are being held. According to estimates from South Korean intelligence services, by 2024, over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia to support Moscow's war effort. In the interview, the prisoners pleaded with the producer to promise them that he would take them to the South, wishing for a normal life, in the context where the Constitution of South Korea considers all Koreans, including those from the North, as citizens. Additionally, North Korean soldiers are trained to commit suicide to avoid capture, and sending them back to the North would be equivalent to a death sentence. Approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been killed in combat, according to information from Seoul.