South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer

Key Points:

• South Korea’s presidential office condemned Ukraine for publicly revealing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, accusing Kyiv of violating a confidentiality agreement and then denying such an agreement existed.
• Seoul expressed strong regret over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure, stating it damaged trust and could harm bilateral relations, and is considering additional measures in response.
• Ukraine disclosed the transfer during President Zelensky’s UN General Assembly speech without sufficient prior consultation, despite prior requests from Ukraine to keep the transfer confidential due to security, diplomatic, and humanitarian concerns.
• The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 and had expressed a desire to go to South Korea, which had agreed to keep their transfer secret to ensure their safety and that of their families.
• The incident occurs amid South Korea’s support for renewed dialogue with North Korea, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s expressed willingness to engage with Pyongyang.