Tensions have risen between South Korea and Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that his troops had captured North Korean soldiers and sent them to South Korea.
What happened
The South Korean government has demanded a public apology from Ukraine, claiming that the two countries had agreed to keep the transfer of the North Korean soldiers a secret. South Korean officials described Zelensky's comments as deeply regrettable and claimed that Ukraine had demanded a nondisclosure pact due to potential political fallout.
Ukrainian officials have denied that any such pact existed, and have not apologized. The South Korean government has expressed strong regret over the disclosure and has demanded an official explanation and apology. The Blue House, the presidential office in Seoul, was outraged by the disclosure and subsequent denials that a nondisclosure agreement existed.
The incident has severely undermined trust between the two governments and inflicted significant damage on their friendly relations. The South Korean Foreign Ministry has summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador to express official complaint, and the government is considering additional measures against Ukraine.
