South Korea has called for an official explanation and apology from Ukraine following Kyiv’s public disclosure of the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The South Korean government emphasized that the transfer was meant to remain confidential due to concerns about national security, inter-Korean relations, and the safety of the soldiers and their families.
President Lee Jae-myung criticized Ukraine’s disclosure, stating that both countries had agreed to keep the repatriation details private. South Korea expressed that Ukraine’s subsequent denial of a confidentiality agreement had further eroded trust between the two nations.
Ukraine, however, has disputed South Korea’s interpretation of their arrangement. A Ukrainian presidential official noted that South Korea was informed in advance that President Volodymyr Zelensky might mention the soldiers during his address at the UN General Assembly. Kyiv clarified that it only disclosed the soldiers’ transfer to South Korea without revealing specific details about the timing or circumstances.
South Korean officials acknowledged receiving prior notification about Zelensky’s potential reference to the prisoners but insisted that they had requested the destination not be disclosed. The core of the disagreement lies in what information the two governments agreed to keep confidential. South Korea maintains that the transfer itself was supposed to be covered by the confidentiality understanding, while Ukraine contends it had not agreed to conceal the fact of the transfer.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025, after being deployed alongside North Korean troops supporting Russia. They reportedly expressed a desire to travel to South Korea rather than return to North Korea, which adds another layer of complexity to the diplomatic dispute.