South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over North Korean POW disclosure

South Korea's presidential office demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine on Sunday, accusing Kyiv of unilaterally disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul and then falsely denying that both sides had agreed to keep the move confidential.

Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a statement that Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the prisoners' transfer through various channels and had requested secrecy, arguing that public disclosure could trigger domestic criticism that Kyiv had forgone an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners. South Korea agreed to maintain confidentiality due to security, diplomatic, and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families in North Korea.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer during his address to the United Nations General Assembly last week, stating that Ukraine had recently transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea after they were captured while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region in January 2025. According to Seoul's statement, Ukraine made the announcement without sufficient prior consultation and subsequently denied the existence of any confidentiality agreement.

Ukraine's presidential office disputed Seoul's account. Advisor Dmytro Lytvyn stated that no secrecy agreement existed and that "Ukraine is an open country," implying it would have been improper to handle the transfer covertly. A source in Zelenskyy's office told Ukrainian media that "Ukrainians have the right to know what is happening" regarding prisoners of war.

Seoul officials stated that the disclosure and subsequent denial have seriously damaged bilateral trust and could harm relations between the two countries. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung earlier criticized the disclosure as inappropriate, noting that state matters should be decided based on national interests rather than political gain. The government said it is reviewing potential additional measures in response to the incident.

The two North Koreans were the first North Korean soldiers captured alive since Pyongyang deployed an estimated 14,000–15,000 troops to support Russia's war effort in 2024. The issue of North Korean POWs was discussed at the NATO summit in Ankara in July, where South Korean and Ukrainian leaders agreed to cooperate on the matter in accordance with international law.