Seoul, South Korea – South Korea’s presidential office expressed “deep regret” on Sunday over what it described as Ukraine’s reneging on an agreement not to disclose the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. This follows a diplomatic dispute that arose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the transfer before the UN General Assembly.
Dispute over the confidentiality agreement
Yonhap news agency quoted Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Affairs Song Ji-hong as saying that Seoul regrets Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure regarding the transfer of the two prisoners. It also expressed regret over the denial that an agreement existed to keep the operation confidential; the South Korean presidency stated that the agreement was intended to protect the two prisoners and their families, while also taking diplomatic and security considerations into account. The presidency noted that Ukraine had requested that the transfer operation remain secret.
Zelenskyy reveals transfer of the two prisoners.
In his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had recently transferred two North Korean soldiers to South Korea. This transfer followed their capture while fighting alongside Russia. South Korean reports indicated that the two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk in January 2025, after having been deployed there as part of the North Korean troops participating in the war on Moscow’s side.
Seoul hints at additional measures.
The South Korean presidential office asserted that disclosing the transfer—without adhering to what it regards as a confidentiality agreement—has damaged trust between the two nations. It stated that Seoul is considering further measures regarding the matter if necessary. Conversely, Ukrainian media cited a source within the Ukrainian presidential office denying the existence of any such confidentiality agreement. Meanwhile, Seoul maintained that it handled the case in accordance with the wishes of the two detainees, international law, and humanitarian principles.