South Korea is seeking an official explanation and apology from Ukraine following Kyiv’s public disclosure of the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korean custody. This disclosure, according to South Korean officials, was meant to remain confidential due to concerns over national security, inter-Korean relations, and the safety of the soldiers and their families.
President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea criticized the breach of confidentiality, emphasizing that both nations had agreed not to publicize the details surrounding the soldiers’ repatriation. However, Ukraine has contested this interpretation, with a presidential official stating that South Korea had been notified in advance that President Volodymyr Zelensky might mention the soldiers during his United Nations General Assembly speech.
While Kyiv maintains that it only revealed the fact of the soldiers’ transfer to South Korea without the timing or operational specifics, South Korean officials assert that they had specifically requested that the destination of the soldiers remain undisclosed. This disagreement centers on what specific information was agreed to be kept confidential, with Seoul asserting that the transfer itself was included in the confidentiality understanding, while Ukraine believes otherwise.
The two North Korean soldiers in question were captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 in Russia’s Kursk region, where they were reportedly deployed alongside North Korean troops supporting Russian operations. After their capture, the soldiers expressed a desire to be transferred to South Korea rather than return to North Korea.
The situation has strained diplomatic relations between South Korea and Ukraine, with Seoul expressing concerns over the erosion of trust following Ukraine’s denial of a confidentiality agreement. The ongoing dispute highlights the complexities of international agreements and the delicate nature of diplomatic communications.