South Korea has summoned Ukraine's top envoy in Seoul and demanded a formal apology after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly revealed that Kyiv had secretly transferred two captured North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
The diplomatic dispute erupted after Zelenskyy announced the transfer during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, stating that two North Korean soldiers captured in Russia's Kursk region had been sent to the country. South Korean officials quickly criticized the announcement, maintaining that both governments had agreed to keep the operation confidential. According to Seoul, secrecy was essential to protect the defecting soldiers and to shield their relatives remaining in North Korea from harsh reprisals.
South Korean officials also said Ukrainian representatives had originally asked for discretion to avoid domestic criticism for foregoing an opportunity to swap the foreign fighters for captive Ukrainian personnel. The rift deepened when the Ukrainian presidential office denied that any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement existed. In response, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and senior aides labeled the denial false, warning that Kyiv's reaction had damaged mutual trust.
South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo then summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires, Andrii Vieshkin, to the Foreign Ministry to formally register Seoul's objections. During the meeting, the ministry urged Kyiv to issue an official explanation, provide an apology, and take steps to avoid similar breaches in the future. Vieshkin acknowledged Seoul's diplomatic stance and promised to convey the complaint directly to his government.