Stories
South Korea Demands Apology from Ukraine Over North Korean POW Disclosure
- •South Korea demands an explanation and apology from Ukraine after President Zelenskyy publicly revealed the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured fighting for Russia to South Korea.
- •Seoul claims Kyiv violated a confidentiality agreement regarding the transfer, a claim Ukraine disputes, stating no such agreement existed.
- •The dispute escalated with South Korea summoning Ukraine's acting ambassador to protest the disclosure, citing damage to trust and potential impact on bilateral relations.
- •The two North Korean soldiers, captured in January 2025, reportedly expressed a desire to go to South Korea and are the first captured alive since Pyongyang began supporting Russia's war effort.
- •South Korea had sought confidentiality due to security, diplomatic, and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the soldiers and their families in North Korea.
Key Questions Answered
South Korea is demanding an explanation and apology because President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul, which Seoul claims violated a mutual confidentiality agreement. South Korea stated that keeping the transfer secret was vital to protect the safety of the soldiers and their family members remaining in North Korea.
Ukraine has disputed South Korea's account by denying that any confidentiality agreement regarding the transfer of the North Korean soldiers ever existed. Dmytro Lytvyn, an adviser to President Zelenskyy, maintained Kyiv's position that no such non-disclosure pact was made.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. They were part of a broader deployment of thousands of North Korean troops sent to support Russia's military operations against Ukraine.
