The Ministry of Unification said on the 28th that it will decide whether to grant protection to two North Korean prisoners of war who were transferred to South Korea from Ukraine, based on the law on North Korean defectors and precedents.
Ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho said at a regular briefing that the process for deciding on the soldiers' protection "will be reviewed in line with relevant laws and past cases."
Asked whether the process would follow the Act on the Protection and Settlement Support of Residents Escaping from North Korea, the spokesperson said, "For now, it would be fair to see it that way." The ministry said it would explain the specific procedures at a later date.
Yoon added that "in general, the unification minister makes the decision on protection for North Korean defectors, but when there are concerns that the case could significantly affect national security, the director of the National Intelligence Service decides whether to grant protection."
On North Korea's response regarding the two prisoners, the spokesperson said, "No developments have been detected so far."
