Seoul seeks apology after Ukraine reveals transfer of North Korean POWs

South Korea's presidential office has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine following a public disclosure regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. The diplomatic row erupted after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the transfer during his address at the United Nations General Assembly, a move Seoul asserts directly breached a strict bilateral confidentiality agreement. The unfolding dispute risks fracturing relations between the two nations as South Korea weighs additional diplomatic measures.

The controversy centers on two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in early 2025 within Russia's Kursk border region, where Pyongyang's troops were deployed to support Moscow's forces. According to South Korean officials, the two individuals expressed a strong desire to resettle in the South while still in Ukraine. Under the South Korean Constitution, citizens of the North are considered nationals of the Republic of Korea, granting them the right to defect. More than 34,000 North Koreans have fled to the South since the end of the 1950–53 Korean War, though military defections remain uncommon.

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Following back-channel negotiations, Seoul and Kyiv arranged a confidential transfer of the prisoners. However, the secrecy was shattered when Zelensky announced the repatriation during his speech in New York on Wednesday. According to Afp, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed deep dismay over the breach of trust in a post on X.

"I do not know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public, but it is very disappointing."

Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea, via Afp

As reported by The News International, Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, stated on Sunday that Ukraine had originally requested confidentiality during their extensive consultations. Kyiv had reportedly feared domestic political backlash and criticism from citizens and military families for giving up an opportunity to exchange the North Korean combatants for a larger number of captured Ukrainian soldiers held in Russia. India Today notes that Seoul agreed to maintain absolute secrecy out of humanitarian, security, and diplomatic concerns.

Those concerns primarily involved the safety of the prisoners and their relatives remaining in North Korea, who face severe state-sanctioned punishment for desertion. ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation highlighted that Ukrainian presidential aide Dmytro Lytvyn sought to defend the disclosure by describing Ukraine as an open country where executing such a transfer entirely in secret would be unusual, adding that no specific personal details were shared during the address.

The diplomatic friction has intensified domestic political pressures within Seoul. As detailed by Aju Press and Korea JoongAng Daily, the presidential office criticized domestic opposition figures for politicizing the sensitive security issue rather than holding Kyiv accountable for the breach. Experts suggest that the disclosure complicates the administration's cautious approach toward North Korea, given that President Lee took power in June 2025 with a policy aimed at offering Pyongyang talks without preconditions, reversing the hawkish stance of his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol.

According to Briefs Finance and Streamline Feed, the fallout threatens to impact broader geopolitical cooperation. South Korea has provided substantial humanitarian and financial support and aligned with US-led sanctions since the conflict began in 2022, but it has maintained a strict domestic ban on supplying direct lethal military assistance to countries at war. Analysts indicate that Ukraine's publicizing of the prisoner transfer makes future defensive arms transfers or expanded intelligence sharing significantly less likely.

With repeated requests for comment directed to the Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul remaining unanswered, communications between the two diplomatic missions have faced a temporary freeze. The South Korean presidential office continues to weigh additional measures while monitoring how Pyongyang responds to the public confirmation of the soldiers' arrival in the South.

What to Watch Next

• Official responses from Kyiv regarding Seoul's demand for a formal apology and detailed explanation.
• Potential implementation of additional diplomatic measures by the South Korean presidential office.
• Any official reaction or propaganda maneuvers from Pyongyang concerning the resettled soldiers.
• Developments in bilateral security discussions and requests for defensive equipment amid strained trust.

For broader international context on regional security developments, additional reporting can be found through our World coverage.