One of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in January has reportedly expressed a desire to defect to South Korea.

Rep. Yu Yong-weon from the ruling People Power Party, who interviewed the soldiers in Ukraine last week, said Tuesday in a press conference at the National Assembly that the North Korean, surnamed Ri, said he really wanted to go to South Korea. 

The lawmaker made the remarks while disclosing photos and playing a clip from an audio file from the interview with the two North Koreans, which took place February 25 in Ukraine and lasted for about 70 minutes.

Ri, who had a gunshot wound to his jaw, reportedly asked the lawmaker if he could receive surgery if he went to South Korea and if he could have a house and start a family there. 

The other North Korean prisoner, surnamed Paek, reportedly said he was thinking about defecting but needed to think about it some more.