South Korea Threatens Ukraine Over North Korean POW Disclosure
President Lee Jae Myung threatened measures against Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the confidential transfer of two captured North Korean prisoners of war.
A diplomatic dispute has emerged between Seoul and Kyiv after Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly announced at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean servicemen to South Korea. The prisoners, captured in January 2025, were the first North Korean soldiers taken alive since Pyongyang entered the war to assist Russia in 2024.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service stated that Ukraine proactively requested strict confidentiality during the mid-September transfer. The Presidential Office of South Korea demanded an apology and explanation, citing security and humanitarian concerns for the prisoners and their families. While the National Intelligence Service denied the transfer was part of a secret deal for aid, it suggested the public disclosure was intended to generate South Korean support for weapons assistance.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the event as a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and expressed hope for a swift resolution. However, Ukrainian officials have denied that a formal confidentiality agreement existed. On October 2, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified "additional measures" if Ukraine continues to refuse a public apology. Analysts suggest these measures could include sanctions on financial or reconstruction assistance, such as a US$100 million non-lethal support pledge made in July.
