North Korean POWs' Depression Exposes Ukraine's Diplomatic Gamble

The Silence Behind the Captivity

For nearly two years, two North Korean soldiers existed in a limbo that blurred the lines between imprisonment and protection. Captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025, Li and Peck were held in conditions so tightly controlled that they were denied even basic outdoor exercise. Their repatriation to South Korea this month, following protracted negotiations between Seoul and Kyiv, has brought to light a grim physical and psychological toll: noticeable weight gain and symptoms of depression, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the case.

The restriction on their movement was not merely a logistical detail. It was a deliberate choice by the Ukrainian presidential office, which took direct charge of the prisoners as the issue escalated into a multinational diplomatic flashpoint. After the Chosun Ilbo’s exclusive interview revealed their existence, requests for interviews from CNN and other international media flooded Kyiv. The Ukrainian government refused them all, aiming to prevent further exposure of the soldiers. But the same tight control that shielded them from the spotlight also confined them to an isolated existence, one that left visible marks on their well-being.

A Diplomatic Minefield

Ukraine’s decision to publicize the capture of North Korean troops—while simultaneously clamping down on their external contacts—created a diplomatic rift with South Korea that continues to simmer. Seoul had long sought to avoid any perception that it was indirectly acknowledging Pyongyang’s military involvement in Ukraine, a move that could complicate relations with both Kyiv and Washington. Yet Kyiv’s transparency, coupled with its restrictive detention policies, forced South Korea into a reactive stance.

Diplomatic sources indicate that the prisoners’ case was handled at the highest levels of the Ukrainian government, underscoring how symbolic their captivity had become. For Kyiv, the North Korean soldiers represented tangible proof of Moscow’s reliance on Pyongyang’s forces, a narrative it wanted to amplify. For Seoul, the very existence of the soldiers raised uncomfortable questions about the safety and treatment of its own interests abroad, especially given the broader context of inter-Korean tensions.

The demand for an apology from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reported by South Korean media, highlights the depth of Seoul’s frustration. Though not explicitly detailed in the sources, such a request signals that South Korea views Ukraine’s handling of the case as a breach of trust—one that prioritized geopolitical messaging over the welfare of individuals caught in the crossfire.

The Human Cost of Geopolitics

The physical and mental symptoms reported in Li and Peck are more than a personal tragedy; they are a window into the conditions faced by North Korean troops deployed to Ukraine. An estimated 15,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to be fighting alongside Russian forces, yet very few have been captured. The fact that only two are known to Ukrainian custody suggests a culture of extreme discipline—and despair—within these ranks.

lawmaker Yu Yong-won of the conservative People Power Party disclosed that during a February visit to Ukraine, intelligence officials told him there were no additional North Korean prisoners. He attributed this scarcity to a willingness among captured soldiers to commit suicide with grenades rather than surrender. Such reports, whether verified or not, paint a picture of troops operating under immense psychological pressure, with escape or capture viewed as existential failures.

The depression and weight gain observed in Li and Peck may not be medically diagnosed, but they align with known patterns of prolonged isolation and stress. When external contact is severely limited, and when every movement is monitored, the human mind and body respond. That these symptoms emerged in soldiers already removed from their home country and thrust into a foreign war underscores the compounded trauma they likely endured.

What Comes Next

The immediate aftermath of this case will test the resilience of Seoul-Kyiv relations. South Korea’s government is now tasked with integrating Li and Peck into its care system, but they will not follow the usual path for defectors. Instead, they are expected to remain under the exclusive protection of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), separate from the oversight of the Ministry of Unification that typically handles defectors. This special status reflects the delicate political sensitivity surrounding their presence in South Korea.

For Ukraine, the episode serves as a cautionary tale about the costs of leveraging human subjects for diplomatic gain. While the publicity around the North Korean prisoners strengthened Kyiv’s narrative of international support against Russia, it also strained ties with a key ally. The ongoing negotiations over reparations, apologies, or further disclosures could drag on, leaving the soldiers in a state of professional and emotional transition.

Regionally, the case reinforces the perception that North Korea’s military engagement in Ukraine is not merely symbolic. The deployment of thousands of troops, combined with the brutal conditions of captivity, indicates a deeper entanglement than many Western analysts initially assumed. Seoul’s challenge is to balance its alliance with Ukraine against the need to protect its strategic interests on the Korean peninsula—interests that are increasingly tied to the behavior of its northern neighbor.

As Li and Peck adjust to life in South Korea, their story will remain a quiet indictment of how great-power conflicts consume ordinary lives. The depression and weight gain are measurable, but the diplomatic scars are harder to see. Until Kyiv and Seoul find a path to mutual understanding, the human cost of this crisis will linger beyond the headlines.