South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded a public apology from Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that two North Korean prisoners of war were transferred to South Korea. Kyiv calls the episode a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and says it is working to resolve the matter, while Seoul insists Ukraine had agreed to keep the transfer confidential. The disclosure has sparked domestic criticism of Lee and heightened tensions between Seoul and Kyiv.
Seoul Demands Apology From Kyiv — President Lee Threatens ‘Further Action’ Over POW Disclosure
President Lee Jae Myung also accused Kyiv of "attempting to provoke a war on the Korean Peninsula" [Getty Images]
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has warned that Seoul may take unspecified "further action" unless Ukraine publicly apologises after President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that two North Korean prisoners of war were transferred to South Korea.
The transfer was disclosed by Mr Zelensky during last week’s UN General Assembly, prompting anger in Seoul, which says the relocation was intended to be confidential to protect the men and their families and to avoid political fallout in Kyiv.
Diplomatic Row Deepens
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, described the episode as a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and told Ukrainian media that Kyiv is "working" to resolve the matter. Mr Sybiha added that South Korea is an important partner and expressed hope for "concrete results".
President Lee responded on X, saying the matter concerns "the dignity of the Korean people and the nation," and accused Kyiv of trying to "bring war on the Korean Peninsula."
Lee’s office has said Ukraine requested the transfer be kept secret, partly to protect the defectors’ families and partly to avoid criticism that Kyiv had missed an opportunity to exchange them for Ukrainian prisoners of war. Kyiv’s office has denied any such confidentiality agreement, a contradiction that has further escalated tensions.
The disclosure also provoked sharp domestic criticism of President Lee, with opposition parties accusing him of concealing the transfer to placate Pyongyang. The two men were among thousands of North Koreans reported to have supported Russia’s war in Ukraine, and local media say they had expressed a wish to be sent to South Korea.
Seoul has broadly supported Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion but continues to maintain a long-standing policy of not supplying lethal weapons to countries engaged in active combat.
What Happens Next: South Korea has publicly demanded an apology; Kyiv has signalled efforts to resolve the dispute. The outcome could affect bilateral relations between Seoul and Kyiv and may intensify domestic political debate in South Korea.
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