South Korea is still demanding an official apology from Ukraine over Kyiv’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, despite Ukraine’s foreign minister declaring the dispute resolved. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that both governments remain in contact and are seeking an amicable settlement.
The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed at the United Nations in September that the two soldiers had been sent to South Korea. They had been captured in Ukraine’s Kursk operation in January 2025 while fighting for Russia and arrived in South Korea in mid-September.
South Korea says the transfer was covered by an understanding to keep the matter confidential, at Ukraine’s request, because the soldiers’ relatives remain in North Korea. Kyiv has denied that such an agreement existed. South Korea has demanded an explanation and apology, saying the disclosure endangered the soldiers and their families.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described the dispute as the result of differing interpretations of confidentiality requirements and said Ukraine fulfilled its obligations. In remarks reported Monday, he said the matter was closed, while maintaining that Ukraine had acted under the Geneva Conventions and South Korea’s constitutional treatment of North Koreans as citizens.
It said officials are continuing discussions with Kyiv and consulting the recalled ambassador, while hoping Ukraine will respond positively to efforts to resolve the outstanding issues.