Zelenskyy's POW Revelation Sparks Diplomatic Row with Seoul Over North Korean Captives

Seoul, South Korea, is embroiled in a diplomatic dispute with Ukraine following an unexpected disclosure by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. South Korea has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine after Zelenskyy revealed what Seoul claims was a secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea. The incident, announced by Zelenskyy during his speech at the U.N. General Assembly last week, involved the transfer of the two POWs who were captured on a Ukraine-Russia battlefield in early 2025. These individuals are reportedly among thousands of North Korean soldiers sent to assist Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

The disclosure immediately prompted a strong reaction from South Korea. President Lee Jae Myung accused Ukraine of breaching a nondisclosure agreement concerning the transfer. Ukraine, however, denied the existence of such a deal. On Sunday, Seong Ghi-hong, a senior presidential adviser for Lee on public relations, publicly expressed “strong regret” over Ukraine’s actions and reiterated the demand for an apology and explanation. The diplomatic tension escalated further on Monday when the South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to Seoul, Andrii Vieshkin, to formally protest Kyiv’s “unilateral disclosure” of the POWs' transfer and its alleged “false denial” of the confidentiality agreement. Ambassador Vieshkin reportedly assured Seoul that he would relay its position to his government.

Seong Ghi-hong emphasized the gravity of Ukraine’s denial of the nondisclosure agreement, describing it as “an act that seriously undermines trust between the two governments and causes significant damage to friendly relations between the two countries.” The agreement to keep the transfer confidential was reportedly established due to dual concerns: Seoul’s apprehension regarding the safety of the North Korean soldiers and their relatives in North Korea, and Kyiv’s concern about potential domestic criticism for forgoing an opportunity to exchange the North Koreans for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia.

Prior to their transfer, the two North Korean soldiers expressed a desire to resettle in South Korea during media interviews conducted while they were still in Ukraine. Seoul had previously urged Ukraine not to repatriate them to North Korea, where they would likely face persecution. South Korea’s legal framework considers North Korea as part of its territory and maintains a consistent policy of accepting and financially supporting North Korean defectors. Since the conclusion of the 1950-53 Korean War, over 34,000 North Koreans have sought refuge in the South, with the majority being female civilians from the poorer northern provinces over the last three decades. Defections by soldiers are relatively uncommon.

In his U.N. address, Zelenskyy did not elaborate on the specifics of the transfer but notably commented on the harsh upbringing in North Korea, stating that “one of them, when he realized he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself and he was shocked that fate didn’t let him die. This is how they raise people in the North.” Some analysts suggest that Zelenskyy might have strategically chosen to expose the danger posed by North Korean involvement in the conflict as a means to galvanize greater Western assistance. Conversely, South Korea’s liberal government expressed concerns that public knowledge of the transfer could provoke an angry reaction from North Korea, potentially jeopardizing ongoing efforts to revive diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington.

The broader context of North Korean involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war adds another layer of complexity. North Korea and Russia officially confirmed in April 2025 that their soldiers had jointly fought to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region. South Korea, the United States, and other allied nations have also accused North Korea of supplying artillery, ammunition, and missiles to Russia, allegedly in exchange for economic and military aid. Last year, South Korea’s intelligence service estimated that approximately 15,000 North Korean troops were sent to the conflict, with around 2,000 casualties. This expanding cooperation with Russia has enabled North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to counter U.S.-led pressure and accelerate his country’s nuclear weapons program more assertively.

Despite being a growing arms exporter with a robust, U.S.-backed military, South Korea has consistently refused to provide direct military support to Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Seoul has offered humanitarian aid and joined U.S.-led economic sanctions against Russia. However, it has resisted calls from Kyiv and NATO for direct military assistance, adhering to a long-standing policy against supplying weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict. In a related diplomatic move last month, U.S. President Donald Trump scaled back a military drill with South Korea, seemingly to restart diplomatic engagement with Kim Jong Un, but North Korea indicated that this step was insufficient to persuade it to return to talks.