A diplomatic dispute between Ukraine and South Korea has intensified following comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung accused Ukraine of undermining his government after Zelenskyy revealed during the United Nations General Assembly that Kyiv had transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine’s Kursk region.
Lee said Zelenskyy’s remarks about a possible military confrontation between North and South Korea could increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He called on Ukraine to acknowledge the agreement surrounding the prisoners’ transfer and issue an apology.
“This is a matter concerning the honor of the Republic of Korea’s people and nation, we cannot overlook it,” Lee said in a social media post.
South Korea had previously demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, saying Kyiv had disclosed the transfer of the two prisoners despite requests for confidentiality.
South Korean senior presidential secretary Seong Ghi-hong said Ukraine had discussed the prisoners’ transfer with Seoul through various channels and had requested that the matter remain secret.
However, Ukraine has disputed the existence of any formal secrecy agreement.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha later sought to ease tensions, describing the situation as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” rather than an incident. He stressed that South Korea remains an important partner for Ukraine and expressed hope for continued cooperation between the two countries.
The dispute has emerged between two US-aligned countries and could complicate broader efforts to strengthen cooperation among countries seeking to counter Russia, China and North Korea.
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