South Korea summons Ukrainian envoy over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer

South Korea summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador and demanded an apology after President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to Seoul.

Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo lodged a formal complaint with acting ambassador Andrii Vieshkin and expressed “strong regret” over the announcement, according to the BBC. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called the disclosure “greatly disappointing,” describing the transfer as a sensitive national security issue.

Ukraine said in early 2025 that its forces had captured the two soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region, where North Korean troops were supporting Russian forces. The soldiers later told media they wanted to go to South Korea. After more than a year of negotiations between Seoul and Kyiv, Zelensky announced their transfer during an address to the UN General Assembly last week.

Seoul said the countries had agreed to keep the transfer secret, partly to protect the soldiers’ families. Lee’s office also said Ukraine had wanted confidentiality to avoid criticism that it had surrendered a possible opportunity to exchange them for Ukrainian prisoners of war. South Korea said Kyiv had indicated Zelensky would mention the soldiers, but not reveal their transfer.

Zelensky’s office disputed that account, saying there was no non-disclosure agreement. Seoul accused Ukraine of making a false claim and said the episode had seriously damaged trust between the two countries. Ukraine’s foreign ministry declined the BBC’s request for comment.