South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of secret North Korean soldiers’ transfer

South Korea has demanded an official explanation and an apology from Ukraine after Kyiv made public the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured in the war in Ukraine.

Seoul claims the transfer had been discussed in advance with the Ukrainian authorities and that both sides had agreed to keep the matter confidential, for security and humanitarian reasons.

South Korea’s presidential office said Ukraine’s disclosure of the information, without sufficient consultation, had damaged trust between the two countries. Seoul also disputed Ukraine’s claims that there had been no agreement to keep the transfer undisclosed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced last week at the UN General Assembly that the two soldiers had been transferred to South Korea. They had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025, while fighting alongside Russian troops.

According to South Korean authorities, the two soldiers had expressed a desire to go to South Korea. Seoul had previously avoided publicly confirming their arrival, citing concerns for their safety and that of their families in North Korea.

Ukraine’s embassy in Seoul did not immediately comment on Reuters’ request for reaction.