Yoo Yong-won, First Public Disclosure of North Korean POWs in Ukraine... "Please Make Every Effort for Repatriation"

[Financial News]  
At the end of February, in an interview in Ukraine, North Korean POW Mr. Ri said, "If I were to be exchanged and go to my homeland (North Korea) now that I am a prisoner, my parents would have already been (executed) and gone. Thinking about that, I feel down all day," he confessed.
On the 27th, the first public disclosure of North Korean POWs by Yoo Yong-won of the People Power Party was made with the intention of urging our government to make every diplomatic effort for their defection.
Earlier, on the 25th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Ukraine and Russia had completed a prisoner exchange of 1,000 each. According to a Ukrainian source confirmed by Representative Yoo, North Korean soldiers Mr. Ri and Mr. Baek, who were captured by Ukrainian forces last January, were not included in this prisoner exchange.
Representative Yoo said, "I visited Ukraine last February to check on the situation of these two people," and "Mr. Ri clearly expressed his intention to defect to the Republic of Korea to me, and Mr. Baek was also open to the idea," he reported.
He continued, "I earnestly request our government authorities," and "Even if reality is difficult, please make every diplomatic effort until they can set foot on the land of freedom in the Republic of Korea," he said.
Representative Yoo emphasized, "Even if they are North Korean POWs, according to Article 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, they are clearly our citizens," and "Bringing them to Korea is an important issue that shows how the Republic of Korea practices the value of human rights in the international community."
He added, "It is now time for the Republic of Korea to respond so that the cry of Mr. Ri, who is already anticipating a tragic end for himself and his parents if repatriated to North Korea, does not remain an empty echo."
He also pointed out, "Our government has repeatedly stated its position of 'accepting all if the parties wish,' and Ukraine has also clearly expressed its intention to cooperate," and "There is growing urgent concern that they might be repatriated to North Korea due to the sharp interests of each country and complex political calculations."

wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yun Reporter