South Korea has called for an explanation and apology from Ukraine following the public revelation of the transfer of two North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The announcement has caused tensions between the two nations, as South Korean officials assert that the transfer was supposed to remain confidential due to its potential implications for national security, inter-Korean relations, and the safety of the soldiers and their families.
President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea expressed his dissatisfaction with the disclosure, emphasizing that both countries had agreed to keep the details of the repatriation under wraps. The situation escalated when Ukraine denied the existence of a confidentiality agreement, further straining the trust between the governments.
In defense, a Ukrainian presidential official stated that South Korea had been notified in advance that President Volodymyr Zelensky might mention the soldiers during his address at the United Nations General Assembly. Kyiv clarified that it only disclosed the fact that the soldiers had been transferred to South Korea, without divulging specific details about the operation’s timing or circumstances.
South Korean officials acknowledged that they were informed Zelensky could reference the prisoners but highlighted that they specifically requested the destination not be disclosed. This has led to a disagreement over what information was supposed to remain confidential, with Seoul maintaining that the transfer itself was included in the confidentiality agreement, while Ukraine argues otherwise.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 in Russia’s Kursk region, where they were reportedly deployed alongside North Korean troops supporting Russia. Following their capture, the soldiers expressed a desire to travel to South Korea instead of returning to North Korea.