South Korea has demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, accusing Kyiv of revealing the arrangement despite an agreement to keep it confidential.

Seoul said Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the transfer through various channels and had specifically requested secrecy. South Korea agreed to the request because of security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families.

Seoul Accuses Ukraine Of Breaking Confidentiality

Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said South Korea strongly regretted Ukraine’s decision to disclose the transfer and its subsequent denial that the two governments had agreed to keep the matter confidential.

“The presidential office expresses strong regret over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure agreement,” Seong said in a statement released on Sunday.

He said the South Korean government was reviewing whether further measures were necessary over the dispute.

According to Seong, Ukraine had requested that the transfer remain secret because public disclosure could prompt criticism in Ukraine that Kyiv had surrendered an opportunity to exchange the North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners.

Seoul agreed to maintain confidentiality because of concerns over the security of the two men and their relatives, as well as wider diplomatic and humanitarian considerations.

The South Korean presidential office said Ukraine subsequently disclosed the transfer in President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s address to the United Nations General Assembly without adequate prior consultation. Kyiv then denied that any confidentiality agreement had been reached.

Seong said the denial had seriously undermined trust between the two governments and could damage bilateral relations. Ukraine’s embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Zelenskiy Announces Transfer At UN

Zelenskiy told the UN General Assembly last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. He said the men had recently been sent to Seoul after being captured while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had raised the issue several days earlier, saying Ukraine had disclosed the transfer despite an agreement between the two countries to keep it confidential.

In a post on X, Lee said “it was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose” the transfer because of the potential consequences. He said the two sides had agreed that the matter should remain confidential.

“I do not know what circumstances led the Ukrainian side to disclose the matter despite the confidentiality agreement, but it is deeply regrettable,” Lee wrote.

North Korean Soldiers Captured In Russia

Ukrainian forces captured the two North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025. They were the first North Korean soldiers to be captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war in 2024 in support of Russia.

South Korea had previously declined to confirm the arrival of the two soldiers, citing concerns about their safety and the security of family members who remain in North Korea.

Seoul and Kyiv had been discussing the possibility of transferring the prisoners to South Korea after the two men expressed a desire to go there, according to an opposition lawmaker in Seoul.

The handling of the prisoners has particular sensitivity for Seoul because of the potential risks faced by their families in North Korea, alongside broader diplomatic considerations surrounding Pyongyang’s involvement in the war.

Transfer Comes Amid Efforts To Revive Dialogue

The transfer comes as South Korea has backed efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea and reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

US President Donald Trump has also renewed his willingness to engage with Pyongyang, adding another diplomatic dimension to Seoul’s efforts to reopen communication with North Korea.

The dispute over the disclosure of the prisoners’ transfer has now created a diplomatic issue between South Korea and Ukraine, with Seoul saying the handling of the announcement has damaged trust between the two governments.

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