Stories
South Korea Demands Ukraine Apology Over North Korean POW Disclosure
- •A diplomatic dispute has erupted between South Korea and Ukraine.
- •President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that two North Korean soldiers captured fighting for Russia were transferred to South Korea.
- •Seoul claims Kyiv breached a confidentiality agreement regarding the transfer, citing safety concerns for the soldiers and their families.
- •Ukraine denies the existence of any confidentiality agreement.
- •South Korea is demanding an official explanation and apology from Ukraine.
Key Questions Answered
South Korea is demanding an explanation and apology because Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. Seoul argues that this public revelation breached a mutual confidentiality agreement designed to protect the safety of the soldiers and their families.
The two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025 after being deployed as part of North Korea's military support for Russia's war effort. Following their capture, they expressed a desire to defect and were subsequently transferred to South Korea.
Ukraine has denied that any binding confidentiality agreement existed regarding the transfer of the North Korean prisoners of war. This denial and the unilateral disclosure by President Zelenskyy prompted strong criticism from South Korean officials, including President Lee Jae-myung.
