Lee Jae Myung Demands Ukraine Apologize Over Disclosure of North Korean POW Transfer
World
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Seoul would take “further measures” if Ukraine does not publicly apologize for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Kyiv, meanwhile, denies that an agreement existed to keep the transfer confidential.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in early 2025 after fighting on Russia’s side. They were later transferred to South Korea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the transfer during his address to the UN General Assembly.
Seoul says Ukraine disclosed the transfer in violation of a confidentiality agreement. South Korean authorities have cited security concerns, including the protection of the prisoners’ relatives, as a reason for keeping the information private. Lee previously said the two sides had agreed not to disclose the transfer.
Following Zelenskyy’s statement, South Korea demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine. Kyiv denied that a nondisclosure agreement existed. Zelenskyy adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said there had been no such agreement and that it would be wrong to conceal where prisoners were being sent.
On October 2, Lee Jae Myung again called for an apology. “If Ukraine continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and publicly apologise, we will take further measures,” the South Korean president said. He also accused Kyiv of portraying him as a “liar.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and expressed hope that cooperation with South Korea would continue. The two sides therefore remain at odds over whether an agreement existed to keep the transfer of the two North Korean POWs confidential.
Seoul says Ukraine disclosed the transfer in violation of a confidentiality agreement. South Korean authorities have cited security concerns, including the protection of the prisoners’ relatives, as a reason for keeping the information private. Lee previously said the two sides had agreed not to disclose the transfer.
Following Zelenskyy’s statement, South Korea demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine. Kyiv denied that a nondisclosure agreement existed. Zelenskyy adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said there had been no such agreement and that it would be wrong to conceal where prisoners were being sent.
On October 2, Lee Jae Myung again called for an apology. “If Ukraine continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and publicly apologise, we will take further measures,” the South Korean president said. He also accused Kyiv of portraying him as a “liar.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and expressed hope that cooperation with South Korea would continue. The two sides therefore remain at odds over whether an agreement existed to keep the transfer of the two North Korean POWs confidential.
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