Seoul has formally complained to Ukraine after President Zelensky publicly announced the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, violating a reported secrecy agreement.

South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo summoned Ukraine's acting ambassador, Andrii Vieshkin, to lodge a formal complaint regarding the public disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the transfer of the soldiers to Seoul during the UN General Assembly last Wednesday. South Korean officials stated the transfer was intended to remain confidential to protect the soldiers' families and avoid complicating potential prisoner exchanges.

Dispute Over Disclosure Agreement

The South Korean government expressed "strong regret" over the announcement, asserting that Kyiv had breached a prior agreement to keep the transfer secret. President Lee Jae Myung described the disclosure as "greatly disappointing" and a matter of national security. In response, Zelensky's office claimed that no non-disclosure agreement existed between the two nations. Seoul has demanded an apology from Ukraine, stating the incident has damaged trust between the countries.

Context of the Transfer

The two North Korean soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk Oblast in early 2025. Following more than a year of negotiations, the individuals were moved to South Korea after expressing a desire to be sent there. While South Korea has maintained a policy of not providing lethal weapons to countries in active war, it has remained sympathetic to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.