South Korean President, Lee Jae-myung has warned that Seoul will take further measures against Ukraine if Kyiv fails to publicly apologise for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Lee accused Ukraine of unilaterally revealing the transfer despite what Seoul described as an understanding between the two governments to keep the arrangement confidential.
He also criticised Kyiv for disputing his account of the agreement, saying the disclosure had undermined his credibility. “If Ukraine continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and publicly apologise, we will take further measures,” Lee said today, accusing Kyiv of making him out to be a “liar.” “This is a matter concerning the dignity of the Republic of Korea and its people and cannot be overlooked,” Lee added in a post on X.
The dispute centres on two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces early last year while fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. Their deployment formed part of Pyongyang’s military support for Moscow, reportedly provided in exchange for economic and military assistance from Russia.
The two prisoners were subsequently transferred to South Korea, where they arrived following consultations involving Seoul and Kyiv. However, the arrangement became contentious after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer during remarks at the United Nations last week.
South Korea expressed dismay at the announcement, arguing that maintaining confidentiality was essential to protecting the prisoners and their families from possible retaliation by North Korea. Seoul subsequently demanded an official apology from Ukraine, insisting that both countries had reached a “clear understanding” to keep the transfer private.
North Korea has a record of retaliating against defectors and their relatives, raising concerns in Seoul about the potential consequences of publicly identifying the two soldiers. Both prisoners had previously been photographed by South Korean media, making their identities recognisable following their arrival in the country.
The disagreement has since developed into a diplomatic confrontation, with Lee insisting that Ukraine acknowledge the alleged confidentiality agreement and apologise for disclosing the arrangement.
The South Korean President’s latest warning followed an interview with Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, published by RBC-Ukraine and other Ukrainian media outlets on Thursday.
Sybiha described the disagreement as a diplomatic misunderstanding rather than a deliberate breach of an agreement. “I would not like to call it an incident,” Sybiha said, expressing hope that the disagreement would not undermine relations between the two countries.
“South Korea is an important country for us. And I very much hope for momentum, continued cooperation, and concrete results that we are indeed achieving with them.”
Andrii Sybiha
Sybiha’s remarks, however, have not resolved Seoul’s concerns, with Lee continuing to demand a public apology and warning of additional measures if Ukraine does not acknowledge its position.
The dispute comes amid broader questions about South Korea’s role in supporting Ukraine as the war with Russia continues. Although Seoul has emerged as a major international arms exporter, it has maintained a policy of refraining from supplying lethal weapons directly to countries involved in active conflicts.
Seoul’s Arms Policy And Ukraine’s Push for Military Support
The diplomatic dispute has also drawn attention to South Korea’s position on military assistance to Ukraine, particularly as Kyiv continues to seek greater international support in its war against Russia.
South Korea’s intelligence agency has suggested that Zelenskyy’s public disclosure of the North Korean prisoners’ transfer may have been intended, in part, to strengthen public support in South Korea for providing weapons to Ukraine. A South Korean lawmaker disclosed the assessment on Wednesday, although Kyiv has not publicly confirmed that this was the Ukrainian President’s motivation.
South Korea has become a significant player in the international arms market in recent years, particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Its defence industry has secured major contracts, including a multibillion-dollar arms agreement with Poland, as European countries seek to strengthen their military capabilities.
Despite its growing defence exports, Seoul has refrained from supplying lethal weapons directly to Kyiv, citing its longstanding policy against arming countries engaged in active conflicts. The policy has limited the extent of South Korea’s direct military assistance to Ukraine, even as its defence industry has expanded its international reach.
Whether the dispute will affect South Korea’s position on military assistance to Ukraine remains uncertain. However, Lee’s warning of further measures underscores Seoul’s insistence that the confidentiality of the prisoners’ transfer and the protection of their families be addressed before the disagreement can be resolved.
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