South Korea Warns Ukraine Over North Korean POW Row
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has warned that Seoul could take additional measures against Ukraine unless Kyiv acknowledges what South Korea says was a confidentiality agreement covering the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers and issues a public apology.
South Korea Warns Ukraine Over North Korean Soldiers
The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly revealed at the United Nations General Assembly that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea.
The soldiers had been captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russia in the Kursk region.
Seoul says both governments had agreed to keep the transfer confidential because of security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the soldiers and their families. Ukraine has denied that such an agreement existed.
Lee Jae Myung Demands Public Apology
Lee said continued refusal by Kyiv to acknowledge the agreement and apologise could trigger further measures from South Korea.
He also expressed “grave regret” over Ukrainian suggestions concerning the possibility of a future military clash between North and South Korea, arguing that such remarks risk encouraging confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea has not specified what measures it could take.
Ukraine Seeks to Repair Relations With Seoul
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has sought to lower tensions, describing the dispute as a diplomatic misunderstanding and stressing that South Korea remains an important partner for Kyiv.
The two countries’ foreign ministers are now discussing how the disagreement can be resolved.
South Korea has provided humanitarian, financial and reconstruction support to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion, while Seoul also relies on Kyiv for intelligence about North Korean military activity connected to the war.
