In-bum Chun was interviewed by Deutsche Welle on the question of what will happen to the North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine
January 17, 2025: In-bum Chun, a Distinguished Military Fellow at ISDP, was interviewed by Deutsche Welle on the question of what will happen to the North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine.
Discussions are currently underway with South Korean diplomats to outline the potential consequences of their return to North Korea.
“They would be immediately executed,” Chun told DW.
“For the North Korean regime, the main consideration is secrecy. The fact that these men surrendered instead of taking their own lives, as documents that have been captured by the Ukrainians show they were ordered to do, means they failed to follow order,” he said.
“The most important thing for the North Korean regime is to maintain their control, and they do not want wounded soldiers returning home to tell their families and friends what went on in Russia.”