[Seoul - Freedom Chosun] Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean envoy to the United Kingdom and former lawmaker for South Korea’s People Power Party, has donated 1 million won (about $730) to support efforts to assist North Korean prisoners of war currently detained in Ukraine.
The contribution was made through the Gyeraeul Nation Unifed, a North Korean escapees' civic group running a campaign to help the POWs. The funds will go toward supporting two young North Korean soldiers who remain in detention camps.
Former North Korean Ambassador to the United Kingdom Tae Young-ho with Jang Se-yul, leader of The GyeoRe-Eol Nation Unifed / Photo = Jang Se-yul
A Shocking Reality: Repeated Suicide Attempts
According to the organization, three North Korean soldiers were captured in Ukraine on August 10 last year. One has since taken his own life, while the remaining two are said to be struggling with repeated suicide attempts and severe psychological trauma.
Local sources report that the POWs, aged 21 and 27, live under intense fear and anxiety. In North Korea, military indoctrination dictates that soldiers must commit suicide rather than be captured.
Those who fail to do so risk having their families punished and sent to political prison camps. Burdened by guilt and fear, the two survivors have repeatedly attempted suicide, posing additional challenges for Ukrainian authorities.
Donations Aimed at Psychological Support
In response, the Gyeraeul Nation Unifed, in cooperation with local contacts in Ukraine, has launched a campaign to provide psychological support and advocate for the men’s safe return. Defectors from North Korea have written letters and recorded video messages to encourage the POWs, while fundraising efforts continue.
The donations will be used to provide traditional Korean food, medicines, books, and daily necessities. Organizers say the support is intended not only to meet material needs but also to send a message of solidarity and hope.
North Korean POWs in Ukraine
North Korean prisoners of war, aged 21 and 27, were brought to the battlefields of Europe without knowing why or where they were going. They were severely injured and subsequently captured.
In North Korea, soldiers are indoctrinated to take their own lives if captured; failure to do so can result in their families being sent to political prison camps. As a result, the two men reportedly continue to attempt suicide, living in constant fear and guilt.
“What these young men need most is not just material aid, but a message of freedom and hope,” said Jang Se-yul, head of the Gyeraeul Nation Unifed FR. “Your concern and support can lead them to a path of freedom, not death.”
A Flicker of Light for Freedom
The group is also working with the Ukrainian North Korean Escapee Diaspora Council and the Korean Association to provide ongoing support.
Within Pyongyang’s harsh doctrine that “prisoners of war are traitors,” the two young men remain weighed down by guilt and fear for their families back home. Yet, according to activists, they continue to cling to a small but persistent light of freedom.
Thae’s donation, campaigners say, is expected to serve as another spark of hope for those still trapped between fear and the possibility of freedom.
※ This article was translated into English with the assistance of ChatGPT. If you find any errors, please contact the Freedom Chosun editorial team at mkdkq7@gmail.com