South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Volodymyr Zelensky violated a confidentiality agreement by publicly revealing that Ukraine transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The disclosure, made after Zelensky's remarks at the United Nations, drew criticism from Seoul's opposition and prompted concerns about diplomatic and security fallout on the Korean Peninsula. Ukraine defended the announcement, saying it only confirmed the transfer and emphasized the country's openness.
Seoul Says Zelensky Broke Confidentiality After Revealing Transfer Of Two North Korean POWs
Seoul says Ukraine should not have disclosed that it sent North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea (TIMOTHY A. CLARY)
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky breached a confidentiality agreement by publicly disclosing that Ukraine transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
Details and Reactions
Lee made the comments on X after Zelensky told the United Nations that Ukraine had sent two North Korean soldiers to the South, adding the men were "not easy to capture alive." The president said he was disappointed the Ukrainian side had made the matter public and warned the transfer was "highly sensitive" with potential consequences for diplomacy and security on the Korean Peninsula.
"I do not know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public, but it is very disappointing," Lee said on X, adding that Seoul had agreed the transfer should remain confidential to avoid possible problems.
South Korea's political opposition also criticised the Lee administration for allowing a foreign leader to announce the arrivals. Officials had reportedly decided to keep the transfer confidential because public disclosure could complicate diplomatic and security considerations.
Ukraine's Response
Zelensky aide Dmytro Lytvyn told journalists that Ukraine is "an open country" and that it would have been strange to hand over the soldiers in secret. "From the entire story — which is long and detailed — we reported only the fact itself, that they were sent to the Republic of Korea," he said.
Background
Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers early last year among Pyongyang's troops reported to be fighting for Moscow. A South Korean lawmaker previously said the pair expressed a desire to live a "normal life" in the South.
Under South Korea's constitution, all Koreans — including those from the North — are considered citizens, and officials have said this status would apply to any North Korean troops captured in Ukraine. The case has renewed sensitivities about the diplomatic and security implications of handling defectors or captured foreign combatants.
Note: This report is based on statements from South Korean and Ukrainian officials and public remarks by President Zelensky at the UN.
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