Seoul seeks apology from Kyiv over disclosure of North Korean prisoners’ transfer

South Korea has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to Seoul. The dispute centres on whether Kyiv had agreed to keep the transfer confidential.

Seong Ghi-hong, a senior presidential secretary, said Ukraine had discussed the transfer through several channels and requested secrecy. He said Zelenskyy disclosed it without sufficient prior consultation, then denied an agreement existed. Ukraine says there was no secrecy agreement.

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung described the matter as highly sensitive and said the disclosure was deeply regrettable. Seong said Ukraine’s denial had seriously damaged trust and could harm relations between the governments. Seoul had earlier declined to confirm the soldiers’ arrival, citing safety concerns for them and family members in North Korea.

Ukraine captured the soldiers in January 2025 in Russia’s Kursk region, where they were fighting for Russia. Zelenskyy announced the transfer at the United Nations General Assembly. Human rights groups had urged their transfer to South Korea over possible risks of punishment if returned to North Korea; South Korean media reported that they wanted to defect.

South Korea’s opposition has also criticised the government for not informing the public about the soldiers’ arrival. The Ministry of Unification says their cases will be reviewed under relevant laws and past practices. They are expected to undergo questioning and security screening before authorities decide whether to grant protection and begin resettlement.