Statement by the NHRCK Chairperson on the Exposure of the Identities of North Korean Soldiers Captured in the Russia-Ukraine War
-The disclosure of personal information, testimonies, and photographs of captured prisoners and their exposure in the media should be stopped -
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) expresses deep concern over the indiscriminate exposure of North Korean soldiers captured in the Russia-Ukraine War on social networking services (SNS) and in the media.
Between January 9 and 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian military posted photographs and videos on social media showing North Korean soldiers captured in the Kursk region of Russia. These materials included their faces and voices without any modifications, such as pixelation or voice alteration, making their identities clearly visible. Major domestic and international media outlets also reported this unaltered footage.
According to Article 13 of the 1949 Third Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, prisoners of war must be protected from "public curiosity." The indiscriminate disclosure of the identities of captured North Korean soldiers via social media and the media clearly violates the principles of humane treatment of prisoners outlined in the Convention.
Furthermore, as the interrogation process was made public, it has been revealed that the captured North Korean soldiers participated in the Russia-Ukraine War—widely regarded as a violation of the UN Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—without prior knowledge of their deployment by Russian forces. Some of the captured soldiers have reportedly requested to remain in Ukraine or watch Korean movies. Given these circumstances, it is difficult to predict the challenges they may face if repatriated to North Korea. Additionally, we are concerned about the potential secondary harm not only to the captured individuals but also to their families in North Korea.
Therefore, the NHRCK strongly urges all nations and media outlets to take precautions to avoid revealing the identities of the captured North Korean soldiers. When reporting on this issue, we call for careful handling of photographs and audio recordings to ensure that individuals cannot be identified.
We request that humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), rigorously monitor and actively support the treatment of captured North Korean soldiers in accordance with international law. Additionally, we urge the Government of the Republic of Korea to take prompt and proactive diplomatic measures to ensure that the human rights of these captured soldiers are not violated.
The NHRCK once again calls upon the international community, governments, and media outlets to adhere to international human rights norms so that the dignity and rights of the captured North Korean soldiers, as guaranteed by international law, are fully upheld. We will continue to monitor and respond to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
January 24, 2025
Ahn Chang-ho
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
