Ukraine, South Korea relations sour over North Korean POWs

South Korea has demanded official clarification and an apology from Ukraine following accusations that Kyiv violated a confidentiality agreement in the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the transfer at a United Nations General Assembly address, stating the soldiers were difficult to capture alive.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed disappointment on social media, questioning why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public. South Korean senior presidential secretary Seong Ghi-hong demanded an official explanation and apology, expressing strong regret over Ukraine's unilateral disclosure and its false announcement that no non-disclosure agreement existed.

The South Korean presidential office stated that Seoul was considering additional measures, though specifics were not provided. The North Korean soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025, with estimates of around 3,000 killed and 1,500 injured, the rest remaining in Russian territory. Ukrainian intelligence suggests that North Korean troops who were surrounded or injured on the battlefield preferred suicide over surrender, leading to the capture of only two soldiers.

Despite South Korea's attempts to improve relations with North Korea, there has been hesitation in taking custody of the pair. Under South Korea's constitution, North Koreans are still considered citizens, allowing them to reside in the country. South Korea has provided non-lethal aid to Ukraine but has not yet offered advanced air defense systems.

Recently, President Zelenskyy suggested that up to 50,000 additional North Korean troops could be deployed to Russia.