{
  "id": 10882165,
  "title": "South Korea says Zelenskyy’s revelation of a secret POW transfer was likely a play for more support",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/south-korea-says-zelenskyys-revelation-of-a-secret-pow-transfer-was",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T06:57:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/30/south-korea-says-zelenskyys-revelation-of-a-secret-pow-transfer-was-likely-a-play-for-more-support"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea's intelligence agency revealed on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent disclosure of a secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea may have been an attempt to generate support for increased assistance to Ukraine. The revelation during Zelenskyy's U.N. speech last week has caused shock and strong protests in South Korea. Seoul demanded an apology and explanation from Kyiv, asserting that a non-disclosure agreement regarding the transfer had been violated. Ukraine has denied agreeing to any such deal. The incident has strained the traditionally strong relations between Kyiv and Seoul, though it remains uncertain whether it could escalate further. The two soldiers were among thousands of North Korean workers sent by Pyongyang to aid Russia in repelling a Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk border region as part of expanded cooperation between North Korea and Russia. North Korea has supplied conventional weapons to Russia as well. South Korea has provided humanitarian aid and support to Ukraine but has avoided supplying weapons, adhering to its policy of not arming countries actively involved in conflict. The intelligence agency assessed that Zelenskyy likely disclosed the transfer to rally public support in South Korea for supplying weapons and other assistance to Ukraine. South Korean lawmakers present at the meeting stated that there has been no apology or expression of regret from Ukraine, either officially or unofficially.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/10882165.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Asia Times",
        "title": "A spark for dialogue toward halting North Korea’s nuclear buildup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/a-spark-for-dialogue-toward-halting-north-koreas-nuclear-buildup",
        "published": "2026-09-30T03:13:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "North Korea denies South's claim, calls DMZ blast a 'farce'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/north-korea-denies-souths-claim-calls-dmz-blast-a-farce",
        "published": "2026-09-30T04:27:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "‘Kim Jong Un a friend’: Trump's reasoning on why North Korea can have nuclear weapons but Iran cannot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/kim-jong-un-a-friend-trumps-reasoning-on-why-north-korea-can-have",
        "published": "2026-09-30T04:57:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "South Korea made no military aid pledge to Ukraine over transfer of North Koreans, lawmaker says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/south-korea-made-no-military-aid-pledge-to-ukraine-over-transfer-of",
        "published": "2026-09-30T05:16:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "North Korea slams South's claim it was behind DMZ mine blasts, calling it a 'farce'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/north-korea-slams-souths-claim-it-was-behind-dmz-mine-blasts-calling",
        "published": "2026-09-30T05:23:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "North Korea Denies South's Claim, Calls DMZ Blast a 'Farce'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/north-korea-denies-souths-claim-calls-dmz-blast-a-farce-10869360",
        "published": "2026-09-30T05:28:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Speedy Tigers urged to maintain momentum against South Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/speedy-tigers-urged-to-maintain-momentum-against-south-korea",
        "published": "2026-09-30T08:24:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}