Ukraine–South Korea Rift Over North Korean POWs

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has criticized Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the United Nations General Assembly that Kyiv had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. The soldiers had been captured while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region. Lee said Zelenskyy’s remarks appeared to disclose an arrangement that had been intended to remain confidential, and accused Ukraine of undermining South Korea. He also objected to Zelenskyy’s comments about the prospect of an imminent military clash between North and South Korea, saying they invoked the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula. Lee called on Kyiv to acknowledge the agreement and apologize, describing the matter as one of national honor. South Korean officials say Ukraine had discussed the transfer with Seoul through multiple channels and had requested secrecy. Ukraine, however, says there was no secrecy agreement. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sought to ease tensions in an interview with Ukrainian media, calling the dispute a “diplomatic misunderstanding” rather than an incident. He emphasized South Korea’s importance to Ukraine and expressed hope for continued cooperation and concrete results. Lee nevertheless voiced regret over Ukraine’s response and reiterated his demand for an explanation and apology. The dispute has placed two US-aligned countries with significant military capabilities at odds. The article notes that the diplomatic tension could complicate US efforts to maintain a united international front toward Russia, China and North Korea.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has threatened unspecified “further action” unless Ukraine publicly apologises for disclosing that two North Korean prisoners of war had been sent to South Korea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the transfer at the UN General Assembly last week, angering Seoul, which says the arrangement was meant to remain confidential. South Korea’s presidential office said Ukraine had asked for secrecy, partly to protect the soldiers’ families and partly to avoid criticism that Kyiv had forfeited a chance to exchange them for Ukrainian prisoners. Zelensky’s office disputed that account, saying the two countries had made no agreement to keep the transfer confidential. The disagreement has also drawn domestic criticism of Lee, with South Korea’s opposition accusing him of concealing the transfer to appease North Korea. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the dispute a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and said Kyiv was working to resolve it. He emphasised that South Korea was an important country and expressed hope for continued cooperation and concrete results. Lee rejected that characterisation, saying the dispute concerned the dignity of the Korean people and nation. He also accused Kyiv of trying to provoke war on the Korean Peninsula, criticising Ukraine for discussing an imminent military clash rather than acknowledging the alleged agreement and apologising. The two soldiers had previously told local media they wanted to go to South Korea. They were among thousands of North Koreans supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine. South Korea has been sympathetic to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion, while maintaining its longstanding policy against supplying lethal weapons to countries engaged in active war.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded a public apology from Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been transferred to South Korea. Lee said Seoul could take “further measures” if Kyiv continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and apologize, and accused Ukraine of portraying him as a liar. South Korea says the transfer was supposed to remain confidential under an agreement intended to protect the two prisoners. Seoul is concerned that disclosure could expose the soldiers and their families to retaliation from North Korea. Ukraine, however, denies that it agreed to keep the transfer secret. The disagreement became public after Zelenskyy mentioned the transfer at the United Nations; Lee expressed regret shortly afterward, and relations between Seoul and Kyiv have since been strained. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding,” rather than an incident, and said Kyiv is seeking to repair relations. He emphasized that South Korea is an important partner and expressed hope for continued cooperation and concrete results. The article presents a dispute over confidentiality and the handling of the prisoners, alongside Ukraine’s effort to prevent the disagreement from damaging broader bilateral ties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy triggered a diplomatic dispute with South Korea when he announced at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. The men had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 and had said they wished to resettle in the South. Seoul summoned Ukraine’s ambassador and demanded an explanation and apology, saying Kyiv had disclosed the transfer despite an agreement to keep it confidential. Ukraine’s spokesperson denied that such an agreement existed; South Korean officials maintained that Ukraine had requested secrecy to protect the prisoners and their families and to avoid domestic criticism. Experts quoted by DW describe the dispute as a symptom of weak trust and limited dialogue between Kyiv and Seoul. They argue that the transfer could have been an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations, but has instead become entangled in South Korean domestic politics. Opposition lawmakers have questioned President Lee Jae Myung’s handling of the matter, while his government is also seeking to ease tensions with North Korea and is concerned that the prisoners’ transfer could complicate efforts to restore inter-Korean communication. The article also places the episode in the context of Russia’s war and North Korea’s military cooperation with Moscow. Russia reportedly sought the return of the prisoners, even as it had resisted exchanging Ukrainian POWs. Analysts differ on the likely consequences: some expect ties between Ukraine and South Korea to cool further, with military-technology cooperation now unlikely; others anticipate that trade and humanitarian assistance will continue. South Korea is not directly supplying weapons to Ukraine, though it sells military equipment to several European countries. The article concludes that Seoul is unlikely to align with Russia, in part because of its obligations to the United States.

Ukraine is working to resolve a diplomatic dispute with South Korea after President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly disclosed that Kyiv had transferred two captured North Korean servicemen to Seoul. The prisoners were taken during the war against Russia, and South Korea had expected the transfer to remain confidential. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the disagreement as a “diplomatic misunderstanding,” rather than an incident, and said Ukraine hoped to settle the matter soon. He emphasized that South Korea is important to Ukraine and expressed hope for continued cooperation and concrete results. South Korea’s presidential office demanded an explanation and apology from Ukraine, saying Kyiv had also falsely denied that the two governments agreed to keep the transfer secret. A senior South Korean official said confidentiality was sought because of security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families. Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in January 2025. They were described as the first North Korean soldiers captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war in 2024 to support Russia. North Korea and Russia have since signed a strategic partnership that includes a mutual defence pact. North Korea reportedly sent about 14,000 troops to help Russia drive Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region. Zelensky said more than 8,000 North Korean troops remained in Russia, while another 10,000 were being trained for possible future deployment. The article reports the dispute and its military context without taking a position on either government’s claims.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has warned Ukraine that Seoul may take unspecified “additional actions” unless Kyiv acknowledges what South Korea says was a confidential agreement and publicly apologizes over the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers. Lee made the warning in a post on X, adding that he felt “grave regret” over Ukrainian remarks that he said suggested an imminent military confrontation between North and South Korea. He argued that such comments could encourage conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The disagreement began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the United Nations General Assembly last month that Ukraine had transferred the two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. The soldiers had been captured while fighting alongside Russian forces. Seoul says Kyiv breached an agreement to keep the transfer confidential to protect the soldiers. Ukrainian officials deny that such an agreement existed. Amid the dispute, Ukrainian media reported that Kyiv was seeking to repair relations with South Korea. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the matter as a “diplomatic misunderstanding,” rather than an incident, speaking to journalists at an event. The diplomatic tension comes at a sensitive point for Lee’s administration. Seoul has been trying to ease tensions with North Korea while also dealing with political fallout from a recent landmine incident in the Demilitarized Zone, the heavily fortified area separating the two Koreas. The article reports the competing positions and the potential for further diplomatic measures but provides no details about what Seoul’s threatened actions might involve.