Seoul seeks clarification and apology from Kyiv over announcement about two North Korean soldiers

South Korea has asked Ukraine for an official explanation and an apology after Kyiv publicly announced the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured during the war in Ukraine.

According to Seoul, the transfer had been discussed earlier with Ukrainian authorities, and the parties had agreed to keep the information confidential for security and humanitarian reasons.

South Korea’s presidential office said Ukraine’s announcement, made without sufficient consultation, had undermined trust between the two countries. Seoul also rejected Ukraine’s claim that there had been no agreement not to make the transfer public.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the UN General Assembly that the two soldiers had been sent to South Korea. Ukrainian forces captured them in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 as they were fighting alongside Russian troops.

South Korean authorities said the soldiers had expressed a desire to go to South Korea. Earlier, Seoul had not publicly confirmed their arrival, citing risks to the safety of the soldiers and their families in North Korea.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.