South Korea threatens Ukraine with further measures
President Lee Jae-myung demands an apology for publicising the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war.
There is news on this story (Friday, 2 October 2026, 07:02): South Korea demands apology from Kyiv after disclosure over prisoners of war
South Korea will take ‘additional measures’ against Ukraine if Kyiv does not publicly apologise for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. President Lee Jae-myung says Ukraine thereby breached a confidentiality agreement; Kyiv denies that any such agreement existed.
Lee issued the warning on Friday via social media. He accuses Ukraine of initially requesting secrecy and then making the transfer public anyway. According to the South Korean president, Kyiv subsequently denied that an agreement existed, making him personally appear unreliable.
The issue concerns two North Korean soldiers who were captured by Ukrainian troops while fighting on the Russian side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during his address to the United Nations General Assembly that the two had since been transferred to South Korea.
Seoul says Ukraine clearly agreed to confidentiality during consultations at various levels. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously stated that the agreement was necessary because of the safety of the soldiers and their family members in North Korea. Ukraine was also reportedly sensitive to criticism because the transfer could have made a possible exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia impossible.
Ukraine disputes that account. An adviser to Zelensky said there was no agreement to keep the transfer secret. Kyiv described the disclosure as part of its explanation of the treatment of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia.
According to South Korean officials, the two soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 and arrived in South Korea in September. Seoul has released no details about their route or current whereabouts. The country says it is taking account of their free will, international agreements and humanitarian considerations.
South Korea’s intelligence service said this week that Zelensky may have disclosed the transfer in order to win support in South Korea for more aid to Ukraine. That is the service’s assessment, not an independently established motive. South Korea provides Ukraine with humanitarian and other support, but so far has not supplied weapons to countries at war.
The measures Seoul is considering have not been disclosed. According to South Korea, the two countries remain in diplomatic contact, but the dispute is putting the relationship under pressure. As long as both governments give different accounts of the alleged agreement, it remains unclear whether it concerned a formal agreement or confidential political assurances.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- South Korea has asked Ukraine for an explanation and an apology.
- Ukraine denies that a formal confidentiality agreement existed.
- South Korea has not yet announced any concrete countermeasures.
Left
Arguments International cooperation should place the protection of prisoners of war and their family members at its centre. Public diplomacy should not outweigh safety and human rights.
Values Human rights, protection of vulnerable groups and restraint in escalation.
Consequences A diplomatic conflict could make humanitarian cooperation and support for Ukraine more difficult.
Centre
Arguments Both countries should document the agreements quickly and clarify them through diplomatic channels. Public accusations increase the damage as long as the facts about the agreement cannot be independently established.
Values Institutional diligence, allied trust and proportionality.
Consequences A limited diplomatic solution is the obvious course, but it may take time as long as both governments maintain their own account.
Right
Arguments A government must be able to enforce confidential security agreements and must not be bypassed without consequences. South Korea must protect its national dignity and negotiating position.
Values National sovereignty, responsibility and deterrence.
Consequences Targeted diplomatic or economic measures could make future partners more cautious, but could also weaken cooperation with Ukraine.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is supported by reporting from AP and Yonhap, including the South Korean president’s new warning. The alleged confidentiality agreement is correctly presented as disputed.
- confirmed Lee Jae-myung warned of additional measures if Ukraine did not apologise. — Reported by The Korea Times based on Yonhap. source
- confirmed Zelensky announced at the United Nations that two North Korean soldiers had been transferred to South Korea. — Confirmed by Associated Press. source
- confirmed South Korea says there was a confidentiality agreement. — The South Korean government has stated this repeatedly; Ukraine denies that the agreement existed. source
- confirmed Ukraine denies that such a confidentiality agreement existed. — AP reported on the Ukrainian denial. source
- confirmed The soldiers were captured in the Kursk region in January 2025 and arrived in South Korea in September. — This timeline was reported by Yonhap. source
- confirmed South Korea’s intelligence service assessed that Zelensky may have made the transfer public to win support for Ukraine. — AP describes this as an assessment by South Korea’s intelligence service, not an established motive. source
- confirmed It is not known what measures South Korea is considering. — The available reporting mentions no concrete measures. source
Editor's note
It is certain that two North Korean soldiers were transferred to South Korea and that Seoul is demanding an apology and further explanation from Kyiv. The parties contradict each other over the existence and precise content of a confidentiality agreement; no concrete countermeasures are known.Sources
- Lee warns of additional measures if Ukraine refuses to apologize — The Korea Times / Yonhap
- South Korea says Zelenskyy's revelation was likely a play for more support — Associated Press
- South Korea stresses clear understanding with Ukraine over secrecy — Yonhap News Agency
- Zelenskyy says Ukraine sent two North Korean prisoners to South Korea — Associated Press
The story so far
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 05:57 South Korea threatens Ukraine with further measures (this article)
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 07:02 South Korea demands apology from Kyiv after disclosure over prisoners of war
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