South Korea threatens further measures over Ukraine disclosure of North Korean POWs

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has warned that Seoul will take “further measures” if Ukraine does not publicly apologise for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

The dispute centres on two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces early last year after being deployed to Russia as part of Pyongyang’s support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to Russia under an arrangement that has included economic and military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

South Korea has strongly objected to Ukraine’s public disclosure of the soldiers’ transfer, arguing that keeping their relocation confidential was necessary to protect their families from possible retaliation by North Korean authorities.

North Korea has a record of punishing defectors and, in some cases, their relatives. The two soldiers have also been publicly identifiable after South Korean media photographed them following their arrival in the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer last week during remarks at the United Nations. South Korean officials subsequently said Seoul and Kyiv had reached an understanding that the movement of the prisoners would remain confidential.

Lee said on Friday that Ukraine’s refusal to acknowledge the agreement and issue an apology was unacceptable.

“If Ukraine continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and publicly apologise, we will take further measures,” Lee said. He accused Kyiv of portraying him as a liar and said the dispute concerned the dignity of South Korea and its people.

The disagreement has raised questions about the diplomatic relationship between Seoul and Kyiv, as well as the handling of sensitive information involving North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine.

Analysts said South Korea’s decision to keep the transfer confidential may also have served Ukraine’s interests because public disclosure could have complicated potential prisoner exchanges between Kyiv and Moscow.

Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, said the South Korean government’s response could create domestic political difficulties because of its approach towards North Korea.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the dispute as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” rather than an incident. He said South Korea remained an important partner for Ukraine and expressed hope that cooperation would continue.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has also suggested that Zelenskyy’s disclosure may have been intended to encourage public support in South Korea for providing weapons to Ukraine, according to a South Korean lawmaker.

South Korea has become a major global arms exporter since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including a multibillion-dollar defence agreement with Poland.

However, Seoul has so far refrained from supplying lethal weapons directly to Ukraine, citing its longstanding policy against providing arms to countries involved in active conflicts. The dispute over the North Korean POWs comes as South Korea continues to balance its security concerns involving Pyongyang with its growing defence and diplomatic ties with European countries.