South Korea’s foreign ministry summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador on Tuesday after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the handover of two North Korean soldiers captured in Russia to Seoul.
Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo delivered a formal complaint to Acting Ambassador Andrii Vieshkin, expressing strong regret that Zelensky disclosed the transfer, which Seoul says was meant to remain confidential.
The two North Koreans, part of the thousands sent by Pyongyang to support Russia in the Ukraine war, were taken by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast in early 2025. After more than a year of quiet negotiations between Kyiv and Seoul, Zelensky revealed their arrival at the United Nations General Assembly last Wednesday, noting the soldiers had not been “easy to capture alive.”
President Lee Jae Myung labelled the announcement “greatly disappointing” and warned that the episode touched on a highly sensitive national‑security issue. Seoul argued the secrecy was intended to protect the prisoners’ families and to avoid criticism that Kyiv had relinquished a chance to swap the soldiers for Ukrainian captives. Kyiv, however, maintains there was no binding non‑disclosure agreement.
Seoul demanded an apology, accusing Ukraine of damaging mutual trust. Lee faced criticism from opposition parties, which allege the government concealed the transfer to placate Pyongyang. While South Korea has supplied non‑lethal aid to Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, it continues to refrain from providing lethal weapons, adhering to a long‑standing policy.
The dispute emerges amid heightened pressure on Seoul to supply advanced air‑defence missiles after North Korea deployed troops to aid Russia in 2024. Ukrainian senior adviser Mykhailo Podolyak argued that South Korea cannot remain a distant observer when North Korea participates in a European conflict, linking defence cooperation to long‑term regional security. In July, Seoul announced a $100 million assistance package for Ukraine, expanding earlier non‑lethal support.
Image: bbc.co.uk
📰 Source: BBC World