South Korea warns of 'further measures' if Ukraine refuses public apology over POW transfer disclosure

SEOUL, Oct 2 — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced the possibility of imposing "further measures" on Ukraine should the nation decline to make a public apology for the unauthorized revelation of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) being transported to South Korea. South Korea has taken a firm stance following Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer of two POWs, who were captured while fighting for Russia, stating that their families could face retaliation from Pyongyang.

The POWs were captured by Ukrainian forces last year, serving alongside thousands of North Korean troops in support of Russia's war against Ukraine in exchange for economic and military aid. In response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's disclosure of the transfer at the United Nations last week, South Korean President Lee expressed his disapproval, emphasizing Seoul's concern for the confidentiality as crucial for protecting the POWs' relatives.

Seoul subsequently demanded an official apology from Ukraine, pointing out that both parties had previously reached a "clear understanding" regarding the confidentiality of the transfer, driven by concerns for the safety of the POWs' families in North Korea. President Lee's statement alleged that Ukraine was misleading him, accusing Kyiv of failing to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology.

He emphasized the significance of this matter for the Republic of Korea and its people, stating that it could not be disregarded. Analysts suggest that South Korea's decision to maintain the confidentiality of the transfer may have been partly motivated by Ukraine's interest, as public disclosure could have complicated Kyiv's prisoner exchanges with Russia.

However, domestically in South Korea, Seoul's approach could face challenges, according to Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University. The professor noted that South Korea's current administration has demonstrated a more lenient stance towards the nuclear-armed North, which could lead to public dissatisfaction given the swift reaction to the Ukraine case and the cautious approach towards the North Korean landmine incident.

In reference to an interview published by Ukrainian media, South Korean Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha denied calling the incident an "incident," instead describing it as a "diplomatic misunderstanding." Sybiha expressed his desire for continued cooperation and concrete results with South Korea, emphasizing the importance of South Korea as a vital partner.

The North Korean regime is notorious for retaliating against defectors and their families. Both POWs have been identified through photographs published by South Korean media prior to their arrival in the South. Seoul's intelligence agency reported that Zelensky may have disclosed the transfer of the North Korean soldiers to garner public support in South Korea for providing arms to Ukraine, according to a lawmaker who spoke on Wednesday.

Over the past few years, South Korea has become a significant arms exporter, particularly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, including through a multibillion-dollar arms deal with Poland. However, the country has refrained from supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine, adhering to its longstanding policy of not arming nations involved in active conflicts.