The South Korean presidency requested an apology from Kyiv on Sunday after President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, according to AFP reports. This misunderstanding arises as Ukraine seeks increased support from its allies amidst escalating Russian bombardments.
The two soldiers were captured by Ukraine in January 2025 during a military deployment from Pyongyang in support of Moscow. Zelensky revealed the transfer during a speech at the United Nations, stating that capturing them alive was no easy task.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung immediately lamented that Ukraine had violated a confidentiality agreement concerning the matter. Dmitro Litvine, an advisor to Zelensky, defended Ukraine’s actions, saying that the country is “an open nation” and felt it would be strange to hand over the soldiers in secret.
However, on Sunday, Seong Ghi-hong, the South Korean presidential secretary for public relations, called the breach of confidentiality a serious matter. He criticized the Ukrainian presidential press service’s false statement that no confidentiality agreement existed, stating it severely undermines trust between the two governments and damages the friendship between their nations.
In response, the South Korean administration formally requested a full explanation and an official apology, with Seong noting that the presidency is considering necessary additional measures, though he did not provide further details.
Ukraine has been appealing to its allies for enhanced air defense capabilities to counter the Russian strikes. South Korea, a significant arms manufacturer, has historically refrained from supplying weapons to active conflict zones, but discussions have reignited due to North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
Heroic Narrative in North Korea
Kiev believes that tens of thousands of North Korean soldiers have supported Russian forces since the invasion began in February 2022. Experts indicate that this involvement offers North Korea economic and military advantages along with battlefield experience.
Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha University, explained that North Korea is using its deployed soldiers to craft a heroic narrative for propaganda purposes. The South Korean government appears concerned that publicizing the return of the prisoners could further inflame hostility towards Seoul.
Lee Jae Myung is striving to establish dialogue with North Korea and has offered unconditional discussions, yet has yet to receive a response from Pyongyang. According to the Constitution, all Koreans, whether from the North or the South, are regarded as complete citizens of South Korea.
Captured Soldiers’ Wishes, According to an NGO
In a letter sent to an NGO in Seoul following their capture, the two North Korean soldiers expressed a desire to lead a “normal life” in South Korea. One soldier noted he had worked in a reconnaissance unit and had been conscripted at the age of 17.
Human rights organizations report that North Korean soldiers sent to fight alongside the Russian army on the Ukrainian front are ordered to commit suicide rather than surrender.
In April, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally praised the fallen soldiers in Ukraine, stating they engaged in “hand-to-hand combat, defying death, and carried out heroic suicide attacks without hesitation.”
