Seoul and Kyiv dispute secrecy agreement over North Korean POW transfer
publishers 24articles 25first reported 26 Sep, 11:10 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 27 editions
South Korea and Ukraine are publicly disputing whether they agreed to keep secret the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a Sept. 23 address to the U.N. General Assembly that the soldiers had been sent to South Korea. The two had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region on Jan. 9, 2025 after being deployed in support of Moscow, and later expressed a desire to go to South Korea.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that Ukraine had requested confidentiality early in consultations because disclosure could affect prisoner exchanges with Russia and other countries. The agency said nondisclosure had been discussed through channels including calls between the countries’ foreign ministers and talks involving South Korea’s embassy in Kyiv and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. It said the soldiers arrived in South Korea in mid-September without major health problems and that Seoul provided no aid in exchange for the transfer.
Ukrainian officials disputed Seoul’s account. An adviser to Zelenskyy wrote that “there was no agreement to remain silent,” while a Ukrainian presidential office source told RBC-Ukraine that Ukrainians had a right to know.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung demanded a public apology and warned of “additional measures” if Kyiv continued to refuse to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and said Kyiv hoped to continue cooperation with Seoul. North Korea has not officially commented.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 4 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 4 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 36 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 24
- Source articles
- 25
- Given to the writer
- 4, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 4
- This version written
- 36 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Two details should be corrected to match the sourced timing and condition for Lee’s warning. - "The two had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025": The sources specify the soldiers were captured on Jan. 9, 2025, not merely in January 2025. - "South Korean President Lee Jae Myung demanded a public apology and warned of “additional measures” if Kyiv continued to deny the agreement.": The source says Lee threatened further/additional measures if Kyiv did not issue a public apology or continued refusing to acknowledge the facts, not specifically if Kyiv continued to deny the agreement.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Seoul and Kyiv dispute secrecy agreement over North Korean POW transfer
South Korea and Ukraine are publicly disputing whether they agreed to keep secret the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a Sept. 23 address to the U.N. General Assembly that the soldiers had been sent to South Korea. The two had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region inon JanuaryJan. 9, 2025 after being deployed in support of Moscow, and later expressed a desire to go to South Korea.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that Ukraine had requested confidentiality early in consultations because disclosure could affect prisoner exchanges with Russia and other countries. The agency said nondisclosure had been discussed through channels including calls between the countries’ foreign ministers and talks involving South Korea’s embassy in Kyiv and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. It said the soldiers arrived in South Korea in mid-September without major health problems and that Seoul provided no aid in exchange for the transfer.
Ukrainian officials disputed Seoul’s account. An adviser to Zelenskyy wrote that “there was no agreement to remain silent,” while a Ukrainian presidential office source told RBC-Ukraine that Ukrainians had a right to know.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung demanded a public apology and warned of “additional measures” if Kyiv continued to denyrefuse to acknowledge the agreement.facts and issue a public apology. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and said Kyiv hoped to continue cooperation with Seoul. North Korea has not officially commented.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →