South Korea has issued a formal demand for an apology and explanation from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of breaching confidentiality by disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul.
Seong Ghi-hong, the senior presidential secretary for public relations, stated on Sunday that the South Korean presidency expressed “strong regret” regarding Ukraine’s unilateral announcement. Seoul further criticized Kyiv for its subsequent claim that no non-disclosure agreement had been established regarding the matter.
According to Seong, Ukraine had engaged in repeated discussions with Seoul through various diplomatic channels regarding the transfer and had specifically requested that the matter remain confidential.
Conversely, Ukrainian officials have maintained that no formal secrecy agreement was in place.
Here is a summary of the situation:
Context of the Disclosure
During his address at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Kyiv had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The soldiers were apprehended while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. While Ukraine successfully seized significant portions of the Russian border region in August 2024, much of that territory has since been contested.
“These individuals are not easy to capture alive. One of them, upon realizing he was to be taken prisoner, attempted to take his own life and was visibly shocked when he survived,” Zelenskyy noted during his speech.
Zelenskyy also denounced North Korea’s military involvement in support of Moscow, labeling the deployment “madness.” He questioned why North Korean citizens were dying in a conflict against Ukraine, suggesting that Kim Jong Un is utilizing his troops as “currency” to secure benefits for the North Korean regime.
Zelenskyy had previously stated he would consider handing the captives to Kim Jong Un if it facilitated a prisoner exchange for Ukrainians held in Russia. However, human rights organizations pressured him to transfer the soldiers to South Korea to mitigate the risk of severe retribution from Pyongyang.
South Korean media outlets also suggested that the two captured soldiers had expressed a desire to defect to the South.
The two North Koreans were captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025, marking the first instance of North Korean soldiers being taken alive since Pyongyang began deploying troops to assist Russia’s war effort in 2024. Estimates suggest thousands of North Korean soldiers have been sent to support Russia under a mutual defense treaty.
South Korea’s Official Response
South Korea had previously declined to confirm the arrival of the soldiers, citing security concerns and the potential safety risks to the soldiers’ families remaining in North Korea.
The sudden public announcement by President Zelenskyy caught the South Korean government by surprise.
In a post on X, President Lee Jae Myung characterized the repatriation of North Korean POWs as a “highly sensitive agenda.”
“For those who chose to publicize this repatriation with such enthusiasm to showcase their achievements—disregarding the impact on inter-Korean relations, the potential loss of life, or national interests—it seems they fail to grasp our government’s efforts to maintain confidentiality,” Lee wrote. He added, “I do not know why Ukraine chose to disclose this in violation of our non-disclosure agreement, but it is deeply regrettable.”
South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea, as the 1953 armistice ended hostilities but did not result in a formal peace treaty. The peninsula remains heavily militarized, with thousands of U.S. troops stationed in the South.
Seong’s Sunday statement emphasized that Zelenskyy’s decision to disclose the transfer without adequate prior consultation, followed by the denial of a confidentiality agreement, has severely damaged the trust between the two nations and could jeopardize future bilateral relations.
Simultaneously, the Lee administration faces criticism from domestic opposition leaders for its lack of transparency. Last week, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party questioned the fairness of the public learning about North Korean POWs through a foreign leader.
“President Lee, why was this kept from the public? Is there something regarding North Korea that could jeopardize your political career, or were you planning to repatriate them to North Korea?” Ahn asked via social media.
Scope of North Korean Involvement
Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence estimates suggest that between 14,000 and 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to assist Russia, with the majority stationed in the Kursk region to counter Ukrainian advancements.
In addition to manpower, Pyongyang has reportedly supplied Moscow with significant military hardware, including artillery, mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, and various rocket systems, according to independent assessments.
Next Steps for the Captured Soldiers
The soldiers are slated to undergo intensive questioning and security screenings before South Korean authorities determine their eligibility for protection and resettlement.
On Monday, the Ministry of Unification announced it would review the cases in accordance with existing laws, including the North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act.
The ministry’s overarching objective remains the eventual reunification of the two Koreas, a goal opposed by the current North Korean leadership.
Under current legal frameworks, the National Intelligence Service conducts investigations into applicants held in temporary protective custody.
Yu Yong-weon, an opposition lawmaker who met the soldiers in Ukraine in February 2025, noted that the men served in North Korea’s special forces. He suggested they could provide critical intelligence regarding Pyongyang’s military training, capabilities, and its specific involvement in the ongoing war.
