South Korea's presidential office has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of unilaterally disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during a UN General Assembly address, despite a prior non-disclosure agreement intended to protect the soldiers' families. South Korea expresses strong regret over Ukraine's subsequent denial of the secrecy pact, warning that the breach has severely damaged bilateral trust.
Disclosure of the transfer at the United Nations
- ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of the two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia to South Korea during his address to the United Nations General Assembly
- ▪South Korea's presidential office stated that Ukraine disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war during the United Nations General Assembly without sufficient prior consultation
Transfer of the soldiers to South Korea
- ▪South Korea had previously declined to confirm the arrival of the two North Korean soldiers transferred from Ukraine, citing concerns for their safety and that of their families in North Korea
- ▪Seoul and Kyiv discussed transferring the two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia after they expressed a desire to go to South Korea, according to an opposition lawmaker in Seoul
Debatable claims
- ▪South Korean diplomatic countermeasures against Ukraine are a proportionate response to the disclosure
- ▪Ukraine should apologize to South Korea for disclosing the North Korean POW transfer
- ▪Protecting the families of North Korean POWs matters more than exposing Pyongyang's war involvement
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