South Korea has requested an official explanation and apology from Ukraine following Kyiv’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The transfer, intended to remain confidential, has sparked tension between the two nations due to concerns about its implications for national security, inter-Korean relations, and the safety of the soldiers and their families.
President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea criticized the disclosure, asserting that there was an agreement with Ukraine to keep the details of the repatriation confidential. The situation was further complicated when Ukraine denied the existence of such an agreement, leading to a deterioration of trust between the two governments.
Ukraine, however, has disputed South Korea’s interpretation of the arrangement. A presidential official in Ukraine stated that South Korea had been informed in advance that President Volodymyr Zelensky might mention the soldiers during his address at the UN General Assembly. Kyiv clarified that while they disclosed the transfer of the soldiers to South Korea, they did not reveal specific details regarding the timing or circumstances of the operation.
South Korean officials acknowledge that they were forewarned about the potential mention of the prisoners but emphasize that they had requested the destination of the soldiers not be disclosed. The crux of the disagreement lies in what information the two countries agreed to keep confidential, with South Korea asserting the transfer itself was supposed to be under wraps, contrary to Ukraine’s stance.
The North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia in January 2025, having been deployed alongside North Korean troops supporting Russia. When given a choice, they expressed a preference to travel to South Korea instead of returning to North Korea.