Story summary
In a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country had transferred two North Korean soldiers, captured while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region, to South Korea. The North Koreans were originally deployed to support Russian forces against Ukraine and were taken prisoner by Ukrainian troops in January 2023.
However, South Korea's presidential office expressed strong regret over this disclosure, accusing Ukraine of breaching a non-disclosure agreement aimed at protecting the soldiers' safety upon transfer. Seoul’s senior presidential secretary for public relations, Seong Ghi-hong, stated that the agreement was to keep details secret due to security and humanitarian concerns.
The diplomatic spat has led South Korea to demand an official apology from Ukraine, citing damage to bilateral trust and potential domestic criticism in Kyiv if the exchange had been disclosed. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s aide Dmytro Lytvyn defended the disclosure, saying it was only meant to report the fact of the transfer, not violate any agreement.
This incident risks complicating future cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine, including possible suspensions of non-lethal aid from Seoul to Kyiv. The row underscores tensions over confidentiality agreements in international military matters.
Written for “North Korean POW Transfer” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 20 other(s) covering the same event.
South Korea has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
asserted
Korea → demand → Seoul
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a statement on Sunday that the president’s office expressed “strong regret over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure agreement”.
asserted
office → say → disclosure
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He said Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the prisoners’ transfer with Seoul through various channels and had requested secrecy.
asserted
Ukraine → unlock → secrecy
However, Kyiv has said no secrecy agreement existed.
asserted
agreement → say → ?
Here’s what we know:
asserted
we → ’ → what
What happened?
asserted
What → happen → ?
Speaking at the annual United Nations General Assembly last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea after they were caught fighting for Russia in the Kursk region.
asserted
they → speak → region
Ukraine seized large parts of the Russian border region in August 2024 but has since lost most of the territory.
asserted
Ukraine → seize → territory
“These guys are not easy to capture alive.
asserted
guys → capture → ?
One of them, when he realised he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself, and he was shocked that fate did not let him die,” Zelenskyy said in his speech.
asserted
Zelenskyy → realise → speech
He also condemned North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Moscow, saying: “This is madness too.
asserted
This → condemn → Moscow
Why should Koreans give their lives in a war against Ukraine?
asserted
Koreans → give → Ukraine
[North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un uses them like currency, and he gets something in return.”
asserted
he → use → return
Zelenskyy said at the time that he would hand the captured soldiers over to Kim if he could facilitate their exchange for Ukrainians held captive in Russia.
However, human rights groups had urged him to send them to South Korea, referring to possible risks of punishment that the soldiers faced.
uncertain
soldiers → say → that
South Korean media also reported that the two captured soldiers had wanted to defect to Seoul.
asserted
soldiers → report → Seoul
Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in January 2025.
asserted
Ukraine → capture → January
They became the first North Korean soldiers to be captured alive since Pyongyang began in 2024 to aid Moscow’s war efforts against Ukraine.
asserted
Pyongyang → become → Ukraine
North Korea is estimated to have deployed thousands of soldiers to support Russia’s war against Ukraine as part of a mutual defence treaty.
asserted
Korea → estimate → treaty
What did South Korea say?
asserted
Korea → say → What
South Korea previously declined to confirm the soldiers’ arrival, citing concerns about their safety and that of their family members still in North Korea.
asserted
Korea → decline → Korea
But Zelenskyy’s decision to announce the transfer surprised South Korea’s government.
asserted
decision → announce → government
In a post on X, President Lee Jae Myung said the issue of repatriating North Korean prisoners of war was a “highly sensitive agenda”.
“From the perspective of those who advertised the repatriation to the whole world with enthusiastic fanfare to show off their achievements – regardless of the impact on inter-Korean relations, the loss of life, or the damage to national interests – they likely not only cannot understand our government’s efforts to keep it confidential but may even wonder if there is something wrong with it,” Lee wrote.
uncertain
Lee → say → it
“I do not know the reasons behind Ukraine’s disclosure in violation of the non-disclosure agreement, but it is deeply regrettable,” he added.
asserted
he → know → agreement
South Korea is technically still at war with North Korea because the two opponents in the 1950-1953 Korean War signed an armistice in 1953 and not a peace treaty.
asserted
opponents → sign → 1953
Thousands of US soldiers are stationed in South Korea, and the two allies hold military exercises regularly, which the North has denounced.
asserted
North → station → which
According to Seong’s statement on Sunday, Zelenskyy disclosed the repatriation without sufficient prior consultation and later denied that any confidentiality agreement existed.
uncertain
agreement → accord → consultation
He added that the denial had seriously damaged trust between the two governments and could harm their relations.
uncertain
denial → add → relations
At the same time, opposition politicians have condemned Lee’s government for failing to disclose the transfer.
asserted
politicians → condemn → transfer
Last week, opposition politician Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party asked on social media whether it was “fair” that the Korean public learned about North Korean POWs in the country through Zelenskyy.
“President Lee, why did you hide it?
asserted
you → ask → it
Does North Korea have something that, if disclosed, would end your political career?
asserted
that → have → career
Or were you planning to send the POWs back to North Korea?” Ahn asked.
asserted
Ahn → plan → Korea
How many North Korean soldiers are fighting in Ukraine?
asserted
soldiers → fight → Ukraine
According to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates, about 14,000 to 15,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to support Russia’s war efforts, and most were deployed to Russia’s Kursk region to fend off a Ukrainian incursion.
As a close Russian ally, Pyongyang has also supplied Moscow with weapons, including artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.
uncertain
Pyongyang → accord → assessments
What happens to the soldiers now?
asserted
What → happen → soldiers
The soldiers are expected to undergo questioning and security screening before South Korean authorities decide whether to grant them protection and begin resettlement.
asserted
authorities → expect → resettlement
On Monday, Seoul’s Ministry of Unification said it would review their cases under relevant laws and past practices, including the North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act.
asserted
it → say → Act
The ministry’s goal is to unify the two Koreas, which were partitioned shortly before the 1950-1953 war.
asserted
which → unify → war
Pyongyang opposes reunification.
asserted
Pyongyang → oppose → reunification
Under the law, the National Intelligence Service investigates applicants in temporary protective custody,
Yu Yong-weon, an opposition lawmaker who met the soldiers in Ukraine in February 2025, said they served in North Korea’s special forces and could provide information on Pyongyang’s training, military capabilities and participation in the war.
uncertain
they → investigate → war
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