A leaflet created by the Ukrainian military with the aim of getting North Korean soldiers to surrender. It reads: "Surrender! And live your dream in South Korea." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)
A leaflet created by the Ukrainian military with the aim of getting North Korean soldiers to surrender. It reads: "Surrender! And live your dream in South Korea." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)

The Ukrainian military is distributing leaflets written in Korean in an effort to convince North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia to surrender, according to a South Korean lawmaker who recently returned from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

People Power Party Rep. Yu Yong-weon said Sunday the Ukrainian military was waging active psychological warfare against the North Korean troops, with one example being the propaganda leaflets.

A leaflet revealed by Yu read: "Surrender, and live your dream in South Korea." The leaflet featured a drawing of a man in a North Korean military uniform with teary eyes and a thought bubble showing a happy family with the South Korean flag underneath.

Yu said Ukrainian authorities told him that North Korean soldiers are usually "already thoroughly psychologically trained," meaning the leaflets have had little effect.

"Leader Comrade Kim Il-sung did not want you to die fighting for imperialists. Comrades of the (North) Korean People's Army, you were sent 7,000 kilometers away from home for the imperialist greed of Russia. But your real obligation is to return to your family alive. Protect your own life. We guarantee: three meals a day, medical assistance, comfortable living conditions. Whether you return to your country or seek political asylum is up to you." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)
"Leader Comrade Kim Il-sung did not want you to die fighting for imperialists. Comrades of the (North) Korean People's Army, you were sent 7,000 kilometers away from home for the imperialist greed of Russia. But your real obligation is to return to your family alive. Protect your own life. We guarantee: three meals a day, medical assistance, comfortable living conditions. Whether you return to your country or seek political asylum is up to you." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)
"Surrender today and be welcomed tomorrow in South Korea." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)
"Surrender today and be welcomed tomorrow in South Korea." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)
"Surrender manual. Step one: Remove the magazine and hold your firearm with the muzzle downward. Step two: Stand upright, put both your hands in the air and shout, "I surrender." Step three: Follow the directions of the Ukrainian solider. Ukraine treats its prisoners of war according to the Geneva Convention." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)
"Surrender manual. Step one: Remove the magazine and hold your firearm with the muzzle downward. Step two: Stand upright, put both your hands in the air and shout, "I surrender." Step three: Follow the directions of the Ukrainian solider. Ukraine treats its prisoners of war according to the Geneva Convention." (Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office)

So far Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers as prisoners of war, according to Yu, both of whom have expressed willingness to defect to South Korea.


arin@heraldcorp.com