South Korea accuses Ukraine of revealing secret prisoner exchange at UN, seeks formal apology from Kyiv.
Published On 2 Oct 2026
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has voiced strong displeasure with Ukraine following remarks by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations that appeared to expose a confidential arrangement for transferring North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
In a social media statement on Friday, President Lee accused Ukraine of undermining his position and warned that Zelenskyy’s comments about a potential military confrontation between North and South Korea risked escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The diplomatic dispute involves two U.S.-aligned nations with significant military capabilities, raising concerns that it could undermine Western coordination in addressing challenges from Russia, China, and North Korea.
President Lee expressed disappointment with Ukraine’s response and formally requested that Kyiv acknowledge the agreement and issue an apology.
“This is a matter that concerns the honor of the Republic of Korea’s people and nation. We cannot simply overlook it,” Lee stated.
Additionally, President Lee referenced an interview with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha published by RBC-Ukraine and other Ukrainian media outlets, in which Sybiha sought to ease bilateral tensions.
Sybiha described the situation as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” rather than an incident, emphasizing that “South Korea is an important country for us” and expressing hope for continued cooperation between the two nations.
At the UN General Assembly, President Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea after they were identified as fighting on behalf of Russia in the Kursk region.
South Korea has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing details about the prisoner transfer without prior notification.
South Korea’s senior presidential secretary, Seong Ghi-hong, stated that Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the prisoner transfer through multiple channels and explicitly requested confidentiality. However, Ukrainian officials maintain that no secrecy agreement was in place regarding the operation.
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