Seoul has signaled a willingness to discuss the return of long-held North Korean prisoners of war in exchange for the release of South Korean citizens currently detained in North Korea. The offer, revealed Wednesday by Seoul’s National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac to NK News, represents a potential shift in approach to securing the freedom of its nationals.
The move comes after President Lee Jae-myung stated he was previously unaware of South Korean detainees held in the democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Wi indicated Seoul is prepared to “make efforts, including consultations with the North, to secure the release of these ROK citizens,” and as part of those efforts, is “willing to send unconverted communists – the long-term prisoners - to the North.” The offer raises complex humanitarian and political considerations, as it involves prisoners held for decades since the Korean War.
These “unconverted communists” refer to North Korean prisoners of war who chose not to defect to the South after the 1950-53 Korean War armistice. Despite numerous attempts at repatriation over the years,a small number have remained in South Korea,refusing to renounce their ideologies.The exact number of these long-term POWs is not publicly known.
Wi’s statement to NK News indicates a proactive stance from Seoul in addressing the issue of detained citizens, a sensitive topic frequently enough handled with discretion. While previous administrations have explored various avenues for securing the release of South Korean detainees, this is the first public indication of a willingness to consider the repatriation of North Korean pows as a bargaining chip. The potential for negotiations remains uncertain,and the DPRK has not yet publicly responded to the offer.
