The National Human Rights Commission said it will review issuing a statement urging the government to press for the repatriation of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces.
The commission held its fifth plenary session on the afternoon of the 9th in a meeting room in Jung‑gu, Seoul, to discuss the matter.
Just before the meeting ended, non-standing commissioner Oh Wan-ho said, “I have something to say. Right now, two North Korean prisoners are being held in Ukraine, and I believe conservative civic groups and some lawmakers are trying to bring them to South Korea.”
He added, “Whether because this is a progressive administration or out of concern for relations with North Korea, the government seems reluctant to intervene on this issue. I think the commission itself should urge the government to pursue the repatriation of the two prisoners or otherwise issue a formal opinion.”
Non-standing commissioner Lee Han-byul said, “Don’t just issue a statement — I would prefer we recommend concrete action to the relevant agencies; a mere statement would be too weak.” In response, Chair Ahn Chang-ho said the matter should be placed on the agenda for (possible) opinion issuance and asked the secretariat to review it.
Earlier, the two North Korean soldiers, confirmed captured in Ukraine in early 2024, expressed a desire to defect to South Korea, but their repatriation has seen no progress for about a year.
Meanwhile, the commission reported plans to publish the 2025 Human Rights Commission human-rights report and presented the results of its review into how agencies implemented the recommendations and opinions approved last year by the plenary and standing committees.
They also discussed a partial amendment to the organizational decree, “The National Human Rights Commission and Its Affiliated Institutions,” which would establish a National Human Rights Education Center.
