{
  "id": 10355910,
  "title": "Seoul seeks apology after Ukraine 'breached' confidentiality agreement over transfer of North Korean POWs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/seoul-seeks-apology-after-ukraine-breached-confidentiality-agreement",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T03:49:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/28/seoul-seeks-apology-after-ukraine-breached-confidentiality-agreement-over-transfer-of-nort"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung's office has demanded an apology from Ukraine following the country's disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war from its territory. The dispute has arisen due to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's revelation that Ukraine had handed over the two North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The disclosure was made public last week, leading to South Korea's President expressing disappointment and disappointment over the breach of a confidentiality agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aide Dmytro Lytvyn tried to downplay the disclosure, stating that it was made public because the president made no secret of the soldiers being handed to South Korea. Despite the Ukrainian presidential press office's statement that no confidentiality agreement existed, South Korea maintains that it is a serious matter and demands an explanation and apology from Ukraine. The row between the two countries could potentially complicate Ukraine's efforts to obtain weapons from South Korea and other allies to defend against Russian bombardments. North Korea has been using the soldiers to create a heroic narrative for regime propaganda, and South Korea is concerned that confirming the return of the prisoners and publicizing the disclosure could fuel further hostility towards Seoul.",
  "summary": "North Korean soldiers were among the foreign contingent conscripted to fight alongside Russian troops on various frontlines in the war on Ukraine, after the Kremlin sought assistance from its close allies to bolster its deployments amid struggles with domestic conscription.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "South Korea, Ukraine relations sour over North Korean POW transfer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/south-korea-ukraine-relations-sour-over-north-korean-pow-transfer",
        "published": "2026-09-27T18:30:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean PoW transfer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/south-korea-demands-apology-from-ukraine-over-disclosure-of-north",
        "published": "2026-09-27T21:15:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/south-korea-demands-apology-from-ukraine-over-disclosure-of-north-10302245",
        "published": "2026-09-27T21:56:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over North Korean prisoners of war disclosure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/south-korea-demands-apology-from-ukraine-over-north-korean-prisoners",
        "published": "2026-09-27T22:48:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Seoul demands apology from Ukraine over N. Korean POW disclosure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/seoul-demands-apology-from-ukraine-over-n-korean-pow-disclosure",
        "published": "2026-09-27T23:32:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "South Korea demands Ukraine apologise for announcing POW transfer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/south-korea-demands-ukraine-apologise-for-announcing-pow-transfer",
        "published": "2026-09-27T23:36:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/south-korea-demands-apology-from-ukraine-over-disclosure-of-north",
        "published": "2026-09-28T00:33:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean PoW transfer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/south-korea-demands-apology-from-ukraine-over-disclosure-of-north-10352364",
        "published": "2026-09-28T03:29:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}