South Korea Seeks Apology from Ukraine for Disclosing North Korean PoW Transfer Deal
South Korea's Response to Ukraine's Disclosure of North Korean PoW Transfer
By Kyu-seok Shim and Rishabh Jaiswal
Sept 27 (Reuters) - South Korea's presidential office demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea and then falsely denying that the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential.
Official Statement and Regret
"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.
Potential Additional Measures
He said the government was reviewing additional measures over the issue if necessary.
Background of the Confidentiality Agreement
Seong said Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the prisoners' transfer with Seoul through various channels and had requested secrecy, arguing that public disclosure could trigger domestic criticism that Kyiv had given up an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners.
South Korea's Concerns
South Korea agreed to keep the transfer confidential given security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families, he said.
Disclosure at the United Nations General Assembly
According to the statement, Ukraine later disclosed the transfer in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's address to the United Nations General Assembly without sufficient prior consultation and subsequently denied the existence of any confidentiality agreement.
Impact on Bilateral Relations
Seong said the denial had seriously damaged trust between the two governments and could harm bilateral relations.
Ukraine's Response and Context
Ukraine's embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Zelenskiy's Statement
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 Korea's Reaction
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung days earlier said Ukraine had disclosed the transfer in breach of a non-disclosure agreement.
Lee Jae Myung's Post on X
In a post on X, Lee said "it was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose" the transfer, given the potential consequences, and that the two sides had agreed to keep it 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.
Details of the North Korean Soldiers' Capture and Transfer
Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025. They were the first North Korean soldiers to be captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war in 2024, assisting Russia.
South Korea's Previous Stance
South Korea had previously declined to confirm the soldiers' arrival, citing concerns for their safety and that of family members still in North Korea.
Negotiations and Broader Diplomatic Context
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 has backed efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea, while US President Donald Trump has renewed his willingness to engage with Pyongyang.
(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Jan Harvey, Alex Richardson and Bill Berkrot)