South Korea’s presidential office conveyed displeasure regarding Ukraine’s public disclosure of a transfer involving two North Korean prisoners of war, asserting that the announcement breached a confidentiality pact between the two nations.
President Zelenskyy revealed during remarks at the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred the two North Korean POWs to South Korea. South Korea’s senior presidential secretary for public relations stated that the presidential office expressed “strong regret” over Ukraine’s unilateral announcement and subsequent denial of the confidentiality agreement’s existence. According to Seoul, the nondisclosure arrangement was established to safeguard the soldiers from potential dangers stemming from public disclosure, consistent with international law and humanitarian obligations.
Ukraine’s presidential office countered that concealing the entire transfer would have been inappropriate, citing the need for transparency. Ukrainian officials denied the existence of a confidentiality agreement with Seoul, according to reports from local media sources. South Korea’s office characterized Ukraine’s denial as “false” and stated that the disclosure and refusal to acknowledge the agreement materially undermined bilateral trust and caused significant disruption to diplomatic relations. Officials indicated that additional measures might be pursued if deemed necessary.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. Reports indicate both soldiers expressed willingness to defect to South Korea. Zelenskyy noted during his UN address that one soldier attempted self-harm upon realizing his capture, describing the soldiers as notably difficult to apprehend alive. Intelligence assessments and accounts from defectors have documented instances of North Korean soldiers resorting to self-detonation or suicide rather than surrender.
The matter of North Korean prisoners gained prominence during a NATO summit meeting between Lee and Zelenskyy in July, where both leaders reaffirmed commitment to resolving the POW question in accordance with international law, building on agreements reached at a South Korea-Ukraine foreign ministers’ conference in March. South Korean intelligence estimates approximately 14,000-15,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russian operations since 2024, with more than 6,000 reportedly killed in combat.
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