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South Korea\u2019s presidential office demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea and then falsely denying that the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe presidential office expresses strong regret over Ukraine\u2019s unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure agreement,\u201d Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a statement \u200creleased on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He \u200csaid the government was reviewing additional measures over the \u200bissue \u200cif \u2060necessary.<\/p>\n
Seong said \u200bUkraine \u2060had repeatedly discussed the prisoners\u2019 transfer with Seoul through various channels and had requested secrecy, arguing that public disclosure could trigger domestic criticism that Kyiv had given up an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners.<\/p>\n
South Korea agreed to keep the transfer confidential given security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families, he said.<\/p>\n
According to the statement, Ukraine later disclosed the transfer in President Volodymyr Zelensky\u2019s address to the United Nations \u2060General Assembly without sufficient prior consultation and subsequently denied the existence \u200cof any confidentiality agreement.<\/p>\n
Seong said the denial had seriously \u200cdamaged trust between the two governments and could harm \u200bbilateral relations.<\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s embassy in Seoul did \u200cnot immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.<\/p>\n
Zelensky told the United Nations General \u200cAssembly last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. He said the men had recently been sent there after being captured while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung days earlier said Ukraine had disclosed the transfer in \u200cbreach of a non-disclosure agreement.<\/p>\n
In a post on X, Lee said \u201cit was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose\u201d the transfer, given \u2060the potential consequences, and \u2060that the two sides had agreed to keep it confidential.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not know what circumstances led the Ukrainian side to disclose the matter despite the confidentiality agreement, but it is deeply regrettable,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in Russia\u2019s Kursk region in January 2025. They were the first North Korean soldiers to be captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war in 2024, assisting Russia.<\/p>\n
South Korea had previously declined to confirm the soldiers\u2019 arrival, citing concerns for their safety and that of family members still in North Korea.<\/p>\n
Seoul and Kyiv had been discussing a possible transfer after the two soldiers expressed a desire to go to South Korea, according to an opposition lawmaker in \u200bSeoul.<\/p>\n
The transfer comes as South Korea \u200bhas backed efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea, while US President Donald Trump has renewed his willingness to engage with Pyongyang.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n