South Korea threatens further measures unless Ukraine apologizes for POW disclosure

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South Korea threatens further measures unless Ukraine apologizes for POW disclosure
South Korea demands Ukraine apology over secret North Korean POW transfer disclosure
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday threatened unspecified "further measures" against Ukraine unless Kyiv publicly apologizes for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
The dispute erupted after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed at the UN General Assembly last week that Ukraine had sent the two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul claims Kyiv violated a confidentiality agreement meant to protect the soldiers and their families, while Ukrainian officials deny such an agreement existed.
Lee accused Ukraine of making him appear a "liar" and said the disclosure risked provoking conflict on the Korean Peninsula. "If the refusal to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology continues, we will take additional measures," Lee wrote on X, calling the matter one of national dignity .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sought to ease tensions, calling the row a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and emphasizing South Korea’s importance as a partner . The two soldiers were captured in early 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region.
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