South Korea has called for an official explanation and apology from Ukraine after the public disclosure of the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The South Korean government emphasized that this transfer was intended 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 criticized the disclosure, noting that both countries had agreed to keep the details of the repatriation private. The South Korean government further stated that Ukraine’s denial of any confidentiality agreement has damaged trust between the two nations.
Ukraine, however, disputes South Korea’s interpretation, with a presidential official claiming that Seoul was informed in advance that President Volodymyr Zelensky might mention the transfer during his address at the UN General Assembly. Ukraine maintains that it disclosed only the fact that the soldiers were transferred to South Korea, without revealing any specifics about the timing or circumstances of the operation.
South Korean officials acknowledged that they were informed beforehand about the potential mention of the soldiers but insisted that they had requested the destination remain undisclosed. The disagreement centers on what aspects of the information were to be kept confidential, with South Korea asserting that the transfer itself was included in the confidentiality agreement, a point that Ukraine disputes.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. They were part of North Korean troops supporting Russia and later expressed a preference to travel to South Korea instead of returning to North Korea.