South Korea seeks apology from Ukraine over POW disclosure

South Korea has demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed at the United Nations that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces had been transferred to Seoul. The South Korean presidential office says the governments had agreed to keep the transfer confidential. A Ukrainian presidential official has reportedly denied that such an agreement existed; the conflicting accounts have not been resolved publicly.

Zelenskyy mentioned the transfer in his 23 September address. Seoul's presidential office issued its formal objection on 27 September, saying disclosure could affect the prisoners' safety and the countries' diplomatic trust. It also said Ukraine had sought secrecy because a transfer, rather than a prisoner exchange, could draw criticism at home. Those explanations are Seoul's account of the discussions, not independently established terms of an agreement.

The case matters beyond the immediate diplomatic dispute. North Korean troops have fought alongside Russia, and the fate of those captured raises questions about protection, repatriation and future exchanges. South Korea says it has handled the two men's transfer according to their wishes and humanitarian principles. Neither government's public statements settle how their private talks were conducted.