South Korea fumes at Ukraine after Zelensky dishes on transfer of captured North Korean soldiers
South Korea summoned the Ukrainian envoy and demanded an official apology after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly revealed a transfer of two captured North Korean prisoners of war. Seoul states that the transfer, which occurred in January 2025, was governed by a nondisclosure agreement that Kyiv broke by discussing it unilaterally. The public exposure of the arrangement has caused significant diplomatic friction between Seoul and Kyiv over the handling of captured foreign combatants.
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- ✓ South Korea summoned the Ukrainian envoy following the public disclosure.
- ✓ President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine sent two captured North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea in January 2025.
- ✓ Seoul stated that Kyiv agreed to a nondisclosure agreement regarding the prisoners and broke it.
- ✓ South Korea is demanding an official apology from Ukraine over the leak.
What changed
Seoul officially summoned the Ukrainian envoy to demand an apology after the disclosure.
Live updates
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South Korea Demands Ukraine Apology Over POW Leak
South Korea summoned the Ukrainian envoy and demanded an official apology after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly revealed a transfer of two captured North Korean prisoners of war. Seoul states that the transfer, which occurred in January 2025, was governed by a nondisclosure agreement that Kyiv broke by discussing it unilaterally. The public exposure of the arrangement has caused significant diplomatic friction between Seoul and Kyiv over the handling of captured foreign combatants.
Why it matters
The diplomatic rift erupted after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the clandestine movement of the North Korean soldiers. South Korea maintains a strict policy regarding defectors and captured personnel from the North, making confidentiality critical for security reasons. Breaking the mutual nondisclosure agreement forces Seoul into an awkward diplomatic posture regarding its alignment with Ukraine.
What is confirmed
- South Korea summoned the Ukrainian envoy following the public disclosure.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine sent two captured North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea in January 2025.
- Seoul stated that Kyiv agreed to a nondisclosure agreement regarding the prisoners and broke it.
- South Korea is demanding an official apology from Ukraine over the leak.
What to watch next
- Whether Ukraine issues an official apology to South Korea
- Any potential fallout regarding future intelligence or prisoner sharing between Seoul and Kyiv
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (11)
- AP News — Zelenskyy says Ukraine sent 2 North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea
- Reuters — Explainer: What comes next for North Korea soldiers transferred from Ukraine to South Korea?
- www.aljazeera.com — Why South Korea is demanding an apology from Ukraine over North Korean PoWs
- bbc.com — Seoul summons Ukraine envoy over North Korean prisoner-of-war row
- CNN — South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer
- nypost.com — South Korea fumes at Ukraine after Zelensky dishes on transfer of captured North Korean soldiers
- New York Post — South Korea fumes at Ukraine after Zelensky dishes on transfer of captured North Korean soldiers
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Seoul summons Ukraine envoy, demands apology after Zelenskyy reveals North Korean POW transfer
- www.bbc.com — South Korea summons Ukraine envoy over North Korean prisoner ...
- www.yahoo.com — Seoul demands an apology after Zelenskyy reveals North Korean ...
- abcnews.com — Seoul demands apology after Zelenskyy reveals North Korean ...
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