Why South Korea is demanding an apology from Ukraine for North Korean prisoners of war | Russia-Ukraine War

South Korea has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine after accusing kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.

Seong Ghi-hong, presidential secretary for public relations, said in a statement Sunday that the president’s office expressed “deep regret over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and the subsequent false announcement that there was no non-disclosure agreement.”

He added that Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the transfer of prisoners with Seoul through various channels and requested secrecy.

However, Kyiv said there was no secrecy agreement.

Here’s what we know:

What happened?

Speaking at the United Nations Annual General Assembly last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said kyiv transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea after they were caught fighting for Russia in the Kursk region. Ukraine seized much of the Russian border region in August 2024, but has since lost most of the territory.

“These guys are not easy to capture alive. One of them, when he realized that he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to commit suicide and he was shocked that fate did not let him die,” Zelenskyy said in his speech.

He also condemned the deployment of North Korean troops to support Moscow, saying: “This is also madness. Why should Koreans give their lives in a war against Ukraine? (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un uses them as currency, and he gets something in return.”

Zelensky said at the time that he would hand over the captured soldiers to Kim if he could facilitate their exchange for Ukrainians held captive in Russia.

However, human rights groups had urged him to send them to South Korea, referring to the possible risks of punishment the soldiers faced.

South Korean media also reported that the two captured soldiers wanted to defect to Seoul.

Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in January 2025.

They became the first North Korean soldiers captured alive since Pyongyang began supporting Moscow’s war efforts against Ukraine in 2024. North Korea is estimated to have deployed thousands of troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine as part of a mutual defense treaty.

What did South Korea say?

South Korea had previously refused to confirm the arrival of the soldiers, citing concerns about their safety and that of their family members still in North Korea.

But Zelensky’s decision to announce the transfer surprised the South Korean government.

In an article on X, President Lee Jae Myung said the issue of repatriating North Korean prisoners of war was a “very sensitive program.”

“From the perspective of those who announced the repatriation around the world with great fanfare to show off their achievements – regardless of the impact on inter-Korean relations, loss of life or damage to national interests – not only can they probably not understand our government’s efforts to keep this confidential, but they may even wonder if there is something wrong,” Lee wrote.

“I do not know the reasons for Ukraine’s disclosure in violation of the non-disclosure agreement, but it is deeply regrettable,” he added.

Technically, South Korea is still at war with North Korea because the two adversaries in the 1950-53 Korean War signed an armistice in 1953, not a peace treaty. Thousands of American soldiers are stationed in South Korea and the two allies regularly organize military exercises, which the North has denounced.

According to Seong’s statement on Sunday, Zelensky revealed the repatriation without sufficient prior consultation and later denied the existence of a confidentiality agreement.

He added that this refusal had seriously damaged trust between the two governments and could damage their relations.

At the same time, opposition politicians condemned Lee’s government for failing to disclose the transfer.

Last week, opposition leader Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party asked on social media whether it was “fair” that the Korean public learned about North Korean prisoners of war in the country through Zelensky.

“President Lee, why did you hide it? Does North Korea have something that, if revealed, would end your political career? Or are you planning to send the prisoners of war back to North Korea?” » asked Ahn.

How many North Korean soldiers are fighting in Ukraine?

According to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates, around 14,000 to 15,000 North Korean troops were sent to support Russia’s war efforts, and most were deployed to Russia’s Kursk region to repel a Ukrainian incursion.

As a close ally of Russia, Pyongyang has also supplied Moscow with weapons, including artillery and mortar shells, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.

What happens to the soldiers now?

The soldiers are expected to undergo interrogation and security screening before South Korean authorities decide whether to grant them protection and begin resettlement.

On Monday, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said it would review their cases under relevant laws and past practices, including the North Korean Defector Protection and Settlement Support Act.

The ministry’s objective is to unify the two Koreas, divided shortly before the 1950-1953 war. Pyongyang opposes reunification.

Under the law, the National Intelligence Service investigates applicants placed in pre-trial detention,

Yu Yong-weon, an opposition lawmaker who met with the soldiers in Ukraine in February 2025, said they had served in North Korea’s special forces and could provide information on Pyongyang’s training, military capabilities and participation in the war.