Lee Moon-bae, deputy spokesperson for South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, speaks during a regular briefing at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday reiterated its request that media outlets refrain from reporting that reveals the faces and voices of North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukraine, warning that such exposure could endanger the safety of the prisoners and their families.
The ministry said the reminder comes as media coverage related to the Ukraine-Russia war is expected to increase ahead of the fourth anniversary of the conflict, urging journalists to adopt what it called “minimum safety measures” when reporting on North Korean POWs.
In a notice sent to reporters, the ministry said that exposing the identities of prisoners could lead to unpredictable risks, including threats to family members. It asked media organizations to alter faces and voices and limit reporting to the minimum necessary scope, even if the prisoners themselves consent to being identified.
The ministry also expressed “deep concern and regret” over reports aired last month that revealed the faces and voices of North Korean POWs despite requests for anonymization. It cited the Third Geneva Convention, which stipulates that prisoners of war “must at all times be protected against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.”
Seoul reiterated its position that North Korean POWs are considered South Korean nationals under the Constitution and that the government will accept all who wish to come to South Korea, providing protection and support in accordance with relevant laws. The ministry said it has conveyed this stance to Ukrainian authorities and continues consultations with Kyiv.
Last month, a television program aired interviews with two North Korean POWs in which their faces and voices were fully exposed. Following the broadcast, a Foreign Ministry official publicly urged the media to take greater care in protecting the identities of prisoners.
The producer who conducted the interviews later said Ukrainian authorities had already disclosed the prisoners’ identities and argued that the broadcast was intended to convey the prisoners’ circumstances and views. The Foreign Ministry, however, maintained that identity protection remains essential to safeguarding both the individuals involved and their families.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260209010003246
