South Korea and Ukraine Face Diplomatic Crisis Over North Korean Prisoners of War
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's announcement that two North Korean prisoners have been transferred to Seoul has sparked tension between the two countries.
South Korea and Ukraine are experiencing a diplomatic dispute over allegations that a confidentiality agreement was violated during the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war captured while fighting on the Russian side.
Capture of Prisoners and Transfer Process to Seoul
Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025. These individuals stated their desire to go to South Korea and reached South Korea via a third country at the beginning of September.
Zelenskyy's Statement and Reactions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public announcement of the transfer process at the UN General Assembly was met with a backlash in South Korea. The Seoul administration stated that Ukraine had broken the confidentiality agreement and demanded an apology.
Confidentiality Agreement Controversy
While South Korea argues that the Kyiv administration requested confidentiality during the process due to fears of domestic criticism, Zelenskyy's adviser Dmytro Lytvyn claimed that no such agreement existed.