South Korea Demands Apology from Ukraine Over Leaked North Korean POW Transfer

South Korea's presidential office has strongly demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of breaching a confidentiality agreement by disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea and then falsely denying the pact.

“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,” said Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, in a statement released on Sunday. He added that the government is reviewing potential additional measures regarding the situation.

Seong explained that Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the transfer of the prisoners with Seoul through multiple channels and requested strict secrecy. Kyiv had argued that a public announcement might trigger domestic backlash, suggesting the government missed an opportunity to trade the soldiers for Ukrainian captives. South Korea agreed to maintain confidentiality due to security, diplomatic, and humanitarian concerns, including ensuring the safety of the prisoners and their families.

According to the statement, Ukraine later revealed the transfer during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to the United Nations General Assembly without proper prior consultation, subsequently denying that any non-disclosure agreement existed. Seong stated that this denial severely damaged mutual trust between the two governments and threatens bilateral relations.

The Ukrainian embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously shared images on January 11, 2025, of the alleged North Korean soldiers captured in Russia’s Kursk region alongside a statement on social media, while CNN blurred the individual's face in the footage.

Zelensky told the United Nations General Assembly last week that Ukraine had transferred the two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea after they were captured fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had stated days earlier that Ukraine violated their non-disclosure agreement by revealing the transfer.

Writing on X, President Lee Jae Myung remarked, “it was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose” the transfer given the potential risks, expressing deep regret over Kyiv's decision to bypass the confidentiality agreement.

The two North Koreans were captured by Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025, marking the first time North Korean soldiers were captured alive since Pyongyang entered the conflict in 2024 to support Russia. South Korea had previously refrained from confirming the soldiers' arrival, citing safety concerns for them and their families remaining in North Korea. According to an opposition lawmaker in Seoul, both capitals had discussed the transfer after the soldiers expressed their desire to go to South Korea. The development unfolds as South Korea supports renewed dialogue efforts with North Korea, and US President Donald Trump expresses a renewed willingness to engage with Pyongyang.