{
  "id": 11386904,
  "title": "Seoul says written proof of POW secrecy deal exists as Lee urges Ukraine to apologize",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/seoul-says-written-proof-of-pow-secrecy-deal-exists-as-lee-urges",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T07:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20261002/seoul-says-written-proof-of-pow-secrecy-deal-exists-as-lee-urges-ukraine-to-apologize"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea has obtained written documents confirming that Seoul and Kyiv reached an agreement to keep the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) a secret, according to a senior foreign ministry official. President Lee Jae Myung cautioned on Friday that Seoul may take further actions should Ukraine fail to apologize for disclosing the transfer. This announcement follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disclosure of the transfer during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23. Kyiv has denied the existence of any confidential agreement, while Seoul maintains that such an accord indeed existed and that Ukraine violated it. The official provided a detailed account of the situation, stating that the two nations had agreed to maintain the secrecy of the transfer. The Ukrainian delegation informed the South Korean side of Zelenskyy's planned speech at the U.N. General Assembly, though they did not specify the contents beforehand. In response, Seoul communicated via text message, expressing their desire for Zelenskyy not to breach the previously established agreement regarding the secrecy of the POW transfer.",
  "summary": "South Korea says it has written documents proving that Seoul and Kyiv agreed to keep the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) secret, as President Lee Jae Myung warned Friday that Seoul will take \"additional measures\" if Ukraine refuses to apologize for disclosing the transfer. The remarks are expected to deepen diplomatic standoff between the two countries after Ukrainian…",
  "key_points": [
    "South Korea obtained documents confirming POW secrecy agreement with Ukraine.",
    "President Lee Jae Myung threatened further actions if Ukraine doesn't apologize.",
    "Ukrainian President disclosed POW transfer at UN General Assembly on September 23."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Seoul says written proof of POW secrecy deal exists as Lee urges Ukraine to apologize",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/seoul-says-written-proof-of-pow-secrecy-deal-exists-as-lee-urges-11390389",
        "published": "2026-10-02T08:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}