South Korea’s presidential office has demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine after Kyiv disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
Seoul accused Ukraine of revealing the transfer despite an agreement to keep the move confidential, and then falsely denying that such an agreement existed.
“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,” Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a statement released on Sunday.
Seong said the South Korean government was considering further measures over the issue if necessary.
He said Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the transfer with Seoul through various channels and had asked South Korea to keep the matter secret.
According to Seong, Kyiv argued that publicly disclosing the transfer could trigger criticism at home that Ukraine had given up an opportunity to exchange the North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners.
South Korea agreed to keep the transfer confidential because of security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families, he said.
Ukraine later disclosed the transfer in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s address to the United Nations General Assembly without sufficient prior consultation, according to the South Korean statement.
Kyiv subsequently denied that a confidentiality agreement existed, Seong said.
He said the denial had seriously damaged trust between the two governments and could affect bilateral relations.
Ukraine’s embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Zelenskiy told the United Nations General Assembly last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
He said the men had recently been sent there after being captured while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had earlier said Ukraine disclosed the transfer in breach of a non-disclosure agreement.
In a post on X, Lee said “it was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose” the transfer because of the potential consequences. He said the two countries had agreed to keep the matter confidential.
“I do not know what circumstances led the Ukrainian side to disclose the matter despite the confidentiality agreement, but it is deeply regrettable,” he wrote.
Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. They were the first North Korean soldiers captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war in 2024 in support of Russia.
South Korea had previously declined to confirm the soldiers’ arrival, citing concerns about their safety and that of family members still in North Korea.
Seoul and Kyiv had been discussing a possible transfer after the two soldiers expressed a desire to go to South Korea, according to an opposition lawmaker in Seoul.
The transfer comes as South Korea backs efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea, while US President Donald Trump has renewed his willingness to engage with Pyongyang.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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