Seoul demands apology from Ukraine over N. Korean POW disclosure

Seoul's presidential office has demanded an apology from Ukraine following the disclosure of an agreement concerning the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously stated that his country had sent the soldiers to the South, describing them as "not easy to capture alive."

South Korea's president, Lee Jae Myung, expressed disappointment over the matter, stating that he was unaware of why Ukraine broke the agreement and made the information public. Zelensky's aide, Dmytro Lytvyn, defended the decision, claiming that Ukraine is an open country and it would have been strange to keep the soldiers' transfer confidential.

Seong Ghi-hong, a senior presidential secretary for public relations, emphasized that the unilateral disclosure of the confidentiality agreement between the two nations gravely damages their friendly relations. The South Korean presidential office has called for an official explanation and apology, considering additional measures if necessary, though specifics were not disclosed.

Earlier this year, Ukraine had captured two North Korean soldiers among Pyongyang's forces fighting for Moscow. South Korean lawmakers suggested that the North Korean soldiers were hoping to live a "normal life" in the South, and under South Korea's constitution, all Koreans, including those residing in the North, are considered citizens.