South Korea has called for an explanation and apology from Ukraine following the public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces to South Korea. The announcement, made by Kyiv, was supposed to remain confidential due to concerns over national security, inter-Korean relations, and the safety of the soldiers and their families, according to South Korean officials.
President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea criticized the disclosure, stating that both countries had agreed to keep the details of the repatriation private. Ukraine’s denial of such a confidentiality agreement has reportedly strained the trust between Seoul and Kyiv.
Ukraine, however, disputes South Korea’s interpretation of the agreement. A Ukrainian presidential official indicated that South Korea was informed in advance of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s intention to mention the soldiers during his address at the UN General Assembly. Kyiv clarified that it only confirmed the transfer of the soldiers to South Korea without disclosing specific details about the timing or circumstances.
South Korean officials acknowledged that they were forewarned about Zelensky’s potential reference to the prisoners but had requested that their destination not be revealed. The disagreement between the two governments centers on what specific information was meant to remain confidential, with Seoul asserting that the transfer itself was included in the understanding, while Ukraine contends it had not agreed to conceal the transfer’s occurrence.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured in January 2025 in Russia’s Kursk region, where they had been deployed alongside North Korean troops supporting Russia. The soldiers later expressed their preference to travel to South Korea rather than return to North Korea.