On the 20th, in the Central Hall of the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, veterans of the Korean Army, including Yo Young-bok, are cutting a ribbon at the opening ceremony of the 'We Have Not Forgotten Them' Korean Army POW Zone. /Courtesy of News1

A Republic of Korea Army soldier who was captured by North Korea during the Korean War and later defected has passed away. Consequently, the number of surviving defected Republic of Korea Army soldiers in the country has decreased to six.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 2nd that a Republic of Korea Army soldier who was captured by North Korean forces during the Battle of Yanggu in 1951, lived as a laborer on a North Korean cooperative farm, and returned to South Korea after defecting in 2009 has passed away.

The Ministry of National Defense did not reveal the deceased's name at the request of the family.

Vice Minister Lee Doo-hee visited the wake of the Republic of Korea Army soldier to pay his respects.

Service members from the 5th Division, the soldier's original unit, and the 52nd Division, its sister unit, also expressed their condolences at the wake.