South Korea rebukes Ukraine over public disclosure of North Korean prisoners’ transfer
South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung criticised Volodymyr Zelensky for revealing that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul, saying the disclosure breached a confidentiality deal on a matter he called highly sensitive for diplomacy and national security.
A covert wartime arrangement between Ukraine and South Korea has spilled into public view, creating unexpected tension between the two governments. South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Zelensky disclosed that Ukraine had moved two North Korean prisoners it had captured while they were fighting for Russia to South Korea.
According to Lee, the issue involved highly sensitive questions of diplomacy and national security. He said the public disclosure broke a confidentiality agreement between the two sides and described the situation as deeply regrettable.
Lee argued that matters of this kind should be handled according to agreed procedures, not aired in public. His comments underline how transfers of prisoners and military personnel can quickly turn into diplomatic flashpoints when they touch on countries such as North Korea and Russia.
For Kyiv, highlighting the transfer fits with its broader effort to expose foreign support for Russia’s war, including allegations of North Korean involvement on the battlefield. For Seoul, the priority appears to be managing a delicate security environment around the Korean Peninsula without unplanned public revelations.
The episode shows the strain that can arise even among partners who broadly share an interest in countering Russia and North Korea when sensitive operations and confidentiality commitments collide.
Next signs to watch include whether South Korea and Ukraine move to lower the temperature through further statements, and whether Pyongyang or Moscow choose to respond publicly to the reported transfer of the two prisoners.
Sources
- OSINT