The Aporia · South Korea demands Ukraine apology over denial of confidential deal on North’s prisoners of war

South Korea’s presidential office is demanding an apology from Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, despite a confidentiality agreement. This disclosure came hours after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed disappointment over the breach of secrecy. Ukraine's presidential aide defended the public announcement, stating it was in line with Ukraine’s policy as an “open country.” In response, South Korea is considering additional measures and demands an official explanation and apology from Ukraine to restore trust between the two governments.

Written by AI on 2026-09-28, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

In a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country had transferred two North Korean soldiers, captured while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region, to South Korea. The North Koreans were originally deployed to support Russian forces against Ukraine and were taken prisoner by Ukrainian troops in January 2023.

However, South Korea's presidential office expressed strong regret over this disclosure, accusing Ukraine of breaching a non-disclosure agreement aimed at protecting the soldiers' safety upon transfer. Seoul’s senior presidential secretary for public relations, Seong Ghi-hong, stated that the agreement was to keep details secret due to security and humanitarian concerns.

The diplomatic spat has led South Korea to demand an official apology from Ukraine, citing damage to bilateral trust and potential domestic criticism in Kyiv if the exchange had been disclosed. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s aide Dmytro Lytvyn defended the disclosure, saying it was only meant to report the fact of the transfer, not violate any agreement.

This incident risks complicating future cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine, including possible suspensions of non-lethal aid from Seoul to Kyiv. The row underscores tensions over confidentiality agreements in international military matters.

Written for “North Korean POW Transfer” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 20 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 North Korean POW Transfer

Politics · 21 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

This article reads unscored and hedges 9% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Seoul warns 'further action' if Ukraine does not apologise over prisoner-of-war row Same event

BBC News

Hedges 0 of 13 claims Outlet record 68/100

South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer Same event

South China Morning Post

Hedges 1 of 4 claims Outlet record 64/100

Seoul ups the ante in Ukraine feud over North Korean POW transfer disclosure Same event

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⚖️ Leans strongly right Hedges 0 of 5 claims Outlet record 64/100

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Hedges 1 of 11 claims Outlet record 66/100

Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine sent to South Korea, Zelensky says Same event

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Hedges 3 of 23 claims Outlet record 59/100

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Hedges 3 of 20 claims Outlet record 60/100

South Korea says Zelenskyy's revelation of a secret POW transfer was likely a play for more support Same event

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Hedges 6 of 24 claims Outlet record 64/100

Seoul's anger with Kyiv over POWs may be driven by worries about its ties to North Korea Same event

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⚖️ Leans left Hedges 4 of 34 claims Outlet record 64/100

South Korea fumes at Ukraine after Zelensky dishes on transfer of captured North Korean soldiers Same event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 13 claims Outlet record 66/100

Seoul seeks apology after Ukraine 'breached' confidentiality agreement over transfer of North Korean POWs Same event

Euronews

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Hours later, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung said on X, "I do not know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public, but it is very disappointing." As a response to this, Mr. Zelenskyy's aide Dmytro Lytvyn told journalists that Ukraine was "an open country" and that it would have been strange to hand over the soldiers in secret.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-28

🔮 Hours later, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung said on X, "I do not know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and made the matter public, but it is very disappointing." As a response to this, Mr. Zelenskyy's aide Dmytro Lytvyn told journalists that Ukraine was "an open country" and that it would have been strange to hand over the soldiers in secret.

2026-09-28 · The Hindu

South Korea demands Ukraine apology over denial of confidential deal on North’s prisoners of war · assertive framing

South Korea's presidential office has demanded an apology from Ukraine for denying an agreement to keep the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul confidential. asserted

office → demand → Seoul

The incident came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations that his country had sent two North Korean soldiers to the South, adding they were "not easy to capture alive". asserted

they → come → South

it → say → secret

"From the entire story -- which is long and detailed -- we reported only the fact itself, that they were sent to the Republic of Korea," he said. asserted

he → report → Korea

"It is in itself a very serious matter that the Ukrainian side violated the confidentiality agreement between the two countries and made the disclosure unilaterally," Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a statement late on Sunday. asserted

hong → violate → Sunday

"But the Ukrainian presidential press office's false statement that there had been no confidentiality agreement... seriously undermines trust between the two governments and gravely damages friendly relations between the two countries," he said. asserted

he → undermine → countries

The South Korean Presidential office demands "an official explanation and apology," said Mr. Seong. asserted

Seong → demand → explanation

The South Korean presidential office is "considering additional measures that may be necessary regarding this matter," he added, but did not specify what they were. uncertain

they → consider → matter

Early last year, Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers among Pyongyang's troops fighting for Moscow. asserted

Ukraine → capture → Moscow

A South Korean lawmaker had previously said the pair wanted to live a "normal life" in the South. asserted

pair → say → South

Under South Korea's constitution, all Koreans, including those living in the North, are considered citizens, and officials have said this would apply to any North Korean troops captured in Ukraine. asserted

this → include → Ukraine

South Korea demands Ukraine apology over denial of confidential deal on North’s prisoners of war

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