Ukraine, South Korea relations bitter over North Korean POWs

South Korea has demanded an official apology from Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of breaching — after which reportedly denying the existence of — a confidentiality settlement relating to the switch of two North Korean prisoners of warfare (POWs) to Seoul.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced the switch in an tackle to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, including that the troopers had been “not straightforward to seize alive.”

Hours later, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung wrote on social media: “I have no idea why the Ukrainian aspect broke the settlement and made the matter public, however it is rather disappointing.”

On Sunday, the South Korean consternation was made official when Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, demanded “an official clarification and apology.”

“The presidential workplace expresses robust remorse over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure settlement,” Seong stated in a press release.

“It is in itself a really critical matter that … critically undermines belief between the 2 governments and gravely damages pleasant relations between the 2 international locations.”

Seong stated Seoul was “contemplating extra measures that could be crucial relating to this matter,” however didn’t specify what they is perhaps.

Ukraine: When had been the North Korean troopers captured?

The North Korean troopers had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia‘s Kursk area in January 2025 — two of round 14,000 North Korean troops deployed to the realm to assist halt and push again a surprise Ukrainian incursion.

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that round 3,000 North Korean troops had been killed and one other 1,500 injured, with the remainder nonetheless stationed on Russian territory. To date, no North Korean troops are believed to have operated on Ukrainian territory itself.

Ukrainian troops reported that North Korean troopers who had been surrounded or injured on the battlefield most popular to die by suicide than give up — and solely two had been captured.

Under President Lee, who has tried to improve relations with the North, South Korea has appeared hesitant to take custody of the pair. But, below Article 3 of the South Korean structure, North Koreans are nonetheless thought-about residents of the South and are permitted to reside within the South.

South Korea is an ally of Ukraine, albeit one which has to date solely supplied non-lethal help. But Kyiv has been urgent Seoul to supply superior air protection programs.

Last month, President Zelenskyy claimed that as much as 50,000 extra North Korean troops may very well be deployed to Russia.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru

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