
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung demanded on Friday that Ukraine publicly apologize for revealing the secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, warning of “further action” if Kyiv refuses.
The dispute erupted after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a UN General Assembly speech last week that Ukraine had sent the two North Korean POWs—captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025—to South Korea. Seoul had expected the transfer to remain confidential, citing concerns for the prisoners’ families still in North Korea and diplomatic sensitivity, according to South Korean officials .
Lee accused Ukraine of undermining South Korea’s dignity and dismissed Kyiv’s characterization of the row as a “diplomatic misunderstanding.” In a social media post, Lee stated that if Ukraine “continues to deny the facts and public apologies,” Seoul would take unspecified additional measures .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha downplayed the conflict, telling journalists on Thursday that Kyiv was working to resolve the issue and valued its relationship with South Korea . Ukraine has denied the existence of a confidentiality agreement, while South Korea insists one was in place .
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