South Korea has summoned Ukraine's acting ambassador to express displeasure over the revelation that two North Korean prisoners of war were transferred to South Korea.
What happened
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the transfer during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, despite a reported agreement to keep the repatriation confidential. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded an official explanation and apology from Kyiv, citing a breach of trust between the two governments.
The two North Korean prisoners were captured by Ukraine in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has alleged that Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer was a violation of a nondisclosure agreement, and has labeled the move as 'cruel and irresponsible'. The South Korean government had agreed to keep the repatriation confidential due to security, diplomatic, and humanitarian concerns.
The Ukrainian Presidential Press Office has denied the existence of a private agreement to keep the transfer confidential, which has further strained relations between the two governments. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed strong regret over the denial and has demanded an official explanation and apology from Kyiv.
