South Korea has summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador to protest President Volodymyr Zelensky’s revelation that two North Korean prisoners of war were transferred to Seoul, which Seoul says violated a confidentiality agreement.
Ukraine confirms transfer; South Korea denies prior agreement
Zelensky announced the transfer during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2025, stating that Ukraine had captured the two North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast in January 2025 and later transferred them to South Korea. He described the soldiers as “not easy to capture alive.”
South Korean officials, including President Lee Jae-myung, immediately criticized the disclosure, asserting that the transfer was meant to remain confidential. Seoul summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador, Andrii Vieshkin, to the Foreign Ministry on September 29 to lodge a formal complaint. Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo expressed “strong regret” over the unilateral disclosure, which Seoul claims breached a nondisclosure agreement.
Ukraine denies existence of secrecy pact
Ukraine has not issued a formal response but has denied the existence of any confidentiality agreement. A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by multiple outlets. South Korean officials, including senior presidential secretary Seong Ghi-hong, have accused Ukraine of making “false statements” by denying the agreement’s existence, calling the denial “an act that seriously undermines trust between the two governments.”
Process for North Korean soldiers in South Korea
The two soldiers, who were among thousands of North Korean troops deployed to support Russia in the Ukraine war, are now in South Korean custody. Seoul’s Unification Ministry stated they will undergo security screening and questioning under the North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act, which allows for up to 90 days of temporary protective custody with possible extensions.
An opposition lawmaker, Yu Yong-weon, who met the soldiers in Ukraine in February 2025, claimed they had served in North Korea’s special forces and could provide intelligence on Pyongyang’s military capabilities and involvement in the war. If granted protection, they would receive resettlement training before integrating into South Korean society.
Diplomatic and political fallout
The dispute has strained relations between Seoul and Kyiv. South Korea has indicated it is reviewing further measures, including potential reductions in support for Ukraine, though no specific actions have been confirmed. Analysts suggest the row could jeopardize future aid and cooperation between the two nations.
Domestically, President Lee faced criticism for the handling of the transfer, with some lawmakers arguing the disclosure damaged national security. The South Korean government has emphasized concerns for the soldiers’ safety and that of their families in North Korea, as well as Kyiv’s desire to avoid domestic backlash over the perceived loss of bargaining leverage for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The two soldiers had previously expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea while in Ukrainian custody.