South Korea has demanded an apology from Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed at the United Nations General Assembly that North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to Seoul.
The dispute concerns two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. They were among around 14,000 North Korean troops deployed to the region. Zelenskyy announced their transfer in New York last week and said the soldiers were 'not easy to capture alive'.
Seoul says the transfer was subject to an agreement requiring confidentiality. The precise terms of that agreement have not been disclosed. Ukraine’s explanation for making the matter public is also unknown.
President Lee Jae Myung expressed his disappointment in a social media post. 'I do not know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public, but it is very disappointing', he wrote.
On Sunday, Seong Ghi-hong, the senior presidential secretary for public relations, called for 'an official explanation and apology'. He said the presidential office viewed Ukraine’s disclosure as a unilateral act.
'The presidential office expresses strong regret over Ukraine's unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure agreement', Seong said in a statement.
Seong said the issue had consequences beyond the handling of the two prisoners. 'It is in itself a very serious matter that … seriously undermines trust between the two governments and gravely damages friendly relations between the two countries', he said.
He added that Seoul was 'considering additional measures that may be necessary regarding this matter'. He did not say what steps South Korea might take.
The disagreement has created a diplomatic rift between Seoul and Kyiv over information that South Korea says should have remained confidential. Ukraine had not given an official response or justification for the disclosure in the material provided.
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