Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Ukraine Apology Over North Korean POW Disclosure Falls Short
Ukraine told the public that two North Korean soldiers had been transferred to South Korea.
South Korea says the countries had agreed to keep this private to protect the soldiers and their families.
South Korea’s foreign minister says Ukraine has sent an apology, but it was not enough for Seoul.
South Korea is considering what steps to take, including possibly bringing its ambassador home.
Ukraine’s foreign minister described the issue as a diplomatic misunderstanding.
The two soldiers were captured while fighting for Russia and later arrived in South Korea.
Cho Hyun suggested, as his personal interpretation, that Ukraine’s president may have wanted to show the United Nations that Ukraine had acted properly.
South Korea says it is trying to address the dispute through diplomacy while maintaining ties with Ukraine.
South Korea says Ukraine sent an apology over disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, but Seoul considers it insufficient.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Seoul is considering firm measures, including possibly recalling its ambassador to Ukraine.
Seoul says both sides had agreed to keep the transfer confidential to protect the soldiers and their families.
Ukraine’s foreign minister called the dispute a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and said he hoped it would be resolved soon.
The soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in Russia’s Kursk region and arrived in South Korea in mid-September.
- Who
- South Korea and Ukraine; South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
- What
- South Korea says Ukraine's apology for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean POWs was insufficient and is weighing possible measures.
- When
- Cho Hyun discussed the matter Tuesday; the soldiers were captured in January 2025 and arrived in South Korea in mid-September.
- Where
- The soldiers were captured in Russia's Kursk region and transferred to South Korea.
- Why
- Seoul says the transfer had been agreed to remain confidential to protect the soldiers and their families.
South Korea's position
Ukraine's position
Confidentiality and apology
South Korea's position
Seoul says the matter was agreed to be confidential and that Ukraine's apology falls short of expectations.
Ukraine's position
Ukraine's foreign minister expressed an apology in messages, described the issue as a diplomatic misunderstanding, and hoped it would be resolved soon.
Reason for disclosure
South Korea's position
Cho Hyun personally speculated that President Volodymyr Zelensky may have wanted to show the United Nations that Ukraine had acted appropriately as a liberal democracy.
Ukraine's position
Ukraine's stated position, as reported, was that there had been no agreement to keep the matter confidential.
- South Korean foreign minister
- Cho Hyun
- Ukrainian foreign minister
- Andrii Sybiha
- Prisoners involved
- Two North Korean soldiers
- Capture
- January 2025, while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region
- Arrival in South Korea
- Mid-September
- Possible South Korean response
- Measures under consideration include recalling Ambassador Park Hee-chang
- Ukraine's description
- A “diplomatic misunderstanding”