South Korea's presidential office has criticized Ukraine for publicly disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, citing a breach of a confidentiality agreement.
Key facts
- •South Korea claims Ukraine breached a non-disclosure agreement regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war.
- •The prisoners were captured by Ukraine in the Kursk region in January 2025.
- •Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly mentioned the transfer during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
- •Seoul stated that the secrecy agreement was intended to protect the safety of the soldiers and their families.
- •The South Korean presidential office expressed strong regret, stating the incident has damaged bilateral trust.
South Korea’s presidential office has demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine following the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. Seoul claims that Kyiv violated a prior non-disclosure agreement regarding the move, which was intended to protect the safety of the prisoners and their families.
Dispute Over Confidentiality
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, stated that Ukraine had repeatedly requested secrecy during discussions regarding the transfer. According to the South Korean government, Kyiv argued that public disclosure could lead to domestic criticism that Ukraine had missed an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners. South Korea agreed to keep the matter confidential due to security, diplomatic, and humanitarian concerns. The dispute intensified after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned the transfer of the two soldiers during his address to the United Nations General Assembly. South Korean officials allege that Ukraine not only disclosed the information without sufficient consultation but also falsely denied that a non-disclosure agreement existed. Seoul maintains that this denial has damaged trust between the two governments.
Background of the Prisoners
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025. They were reportedly the first North Korean soldiers to be captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war. South Korean officials are currently reviewing whether additional measures are necessary in response to the diplomatic fallout.
Timeline
- January 2025Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region.
- Last weekPresident Volodymyr Zelenskiy disclosed the transfer of the soldiers during his address to the UN General Assembly.
- SundayThe South Korean presidential office released a statement demanding an apology from Ukraine.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by South China Morning Post, Hindustan Times World.
