South Korea Says Zelenskyy Breached Secrecy Deal on North Korean POWs
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — WEB DESK: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has accused Ukraine of breaching a confidentiality agreement by publicly disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, saying the sensitive information could have diplomatic and national-security consequences.
Lee expressed regret on Thursday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York a day earlier.
The South Korean president said Seoul and Kyiv had agreed that the transfer would remain confidential because making it public could create a range of problems. He said he did not know why Ukraine had decided to disclose the information but regretted the decision.
South Korea’s concern goes beyond diplomatic protocol. Lee said the case was highly sensitive because of its potential impact on diplomacy, national security and the security environment on the Korean Peninsula.
Zelenskyy Revealed Transfer at UNGA
The dispute emerged after Zelenskyy told the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had recently transferred the two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
Ukraine’s presidential office subsequently confirmed that the transfer had been carried out through direct dialogue with Seoul.
The Ukrainian presidency later responded to questions from Yonhap by saying it had disclosed only the fact of the transfer, rather than detailed information about how it was conducted.
According to the Ukrainian side, keeping the entire transfer secret would have been unusual.
The disagreement therefore concerns the disclosure of the transfer itself rather than a dispute over whether Seoul had accepted the soldiers.
Soldiers Captured in Russia’s Kursk Region
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in January 2025 while fighting in Russia’s Kursk region.
They were among thousands of North Korean troops deployed in support of Russia during its war against Ukraine.
Both soldiers subsequently expressed a desire to relocate to South Korea, prompting consultations between Seoul and Kyiv over their future.
South Korea’s government had previously declined to publicly confirm their arrival.
Officials cited concerns over the personal safety of the two soldiers and the security of their families who remain in North Korea.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry also avoided disclosing details including the timing, route and operational circumstances of the transfer.
Seoul Says Disclosure Could Create Security Risks
Lee defended Seoul’s decision to keep the matter confidential, arguing that disclosure could create risks extending beyond the two soldiers themselves.
The president criticised suggestions that his administration should have publicly announced the transfer earlier, arguing that protecting lives and national interests should take priority over gaining political credit.
The issue has since become politically contentious inside South Korea. Rival parties have clashed over whether the government was justified in keeping the transfer secret and whether Zelenskyy’s disclosure created additional security risks.
Lee’s government has emphasised that protecting the transferred soldiers remains the immediate priority.
North Korea-Russia Military Cooperation Adds Sensitivity
The dispute comes against the backdrop of increasingly close military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
North Korean forces have supported Moscow’s military campaign, while Pyongyang has deepened its strategic relationship with Russia.
The issue is especially sensitive for Seoul because North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities. Earlier this week, Pyongyang tested a new missile system that North Korean state media described as incorporating advanced technology.
President Lee has simultaneously been seeking to revive diplomacy with Pyongyang. He has advocated a step-by-step approach under which North Korea could initially freeze parts of its nuclear programme in exchange for concessions before moving towards broader disarmament.
The disclosure of the POW transfer therefore comes at a particularly delicate moment for South Korea’s security and inter-Korean policy.
Kyiv and Seoul Agree on Transfer, Disagree Over Disclosure
There is no indication from the available reporting that South Korea objects to the transfer itself.
The disagreement centres on Ukraine’s decision to announce it publicly despite what Seoul says was a mutual non-disclosure agreement.
Ukraine has confirmed that the transfer was arranged through direct discussions with the South Korean government, while Seoul maintains that both sides had agreed to confidentiality.
The key verified development is therefore that two North Korean POWs captured by Ukraine have been transferred to South Korea, while President Lee says Zelenskyy’s public disclosure violated an agreement between the two governments.
The long-term diplomatic impact of the disagreement on South Korea-Ukraine relations remains unclear.
