Transfer of Two North Korean POWs to South Korea Sparks Diplomatic Tension

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at a United Nations General Assembly session that Kyiv had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to the Republic of Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said the revelation violated a prior non-disclosure agreement between Kyiv and Seoul, describing the public disclosure as “deeply regrettable.”

South Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded South Korea slams Zelensky over North Korean POW disclosure Kyiv IndependentZelensky Reveals North Korean POWs Headed to South Korea at UN; Lee Jae-myung Cries "Breach of Confidentiality" Lee calls Ukraine's disclosure of North Korean prisoners' transfer to South Korea 'deeply regrettable' South Korean president slams Zelenskyy's disclosure of transfer of 2 North Korean prisoners to Seoul Lee expresses regret over Zelensky's public disclosure of North Korean POWs sent to South Korea

North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region to support Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine. Ukrainian forces captured the two soldiers in early 2025, and both expressed a desire to defect to South Korea rather than return to the North. In July 2026, Kyiv and Seoul reportedly reached an agreement to handle the repatriation on humanitarian grounds while keeping the process confidential.

Kyiv IndependentSouth Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded South Korea slams Zelensky over North Korean POW disclosure South Korean president slams Zelenskyy's disclosure of transfer of 2 North Korean prisoners to Seoul Zelensky Reveals North Korean POWs Headed to South Korea at UN; Lee Jae-myung Cries "Breach of Confidentiality" Lee calls Ukraine's disclosure of North Korean prisoners' transfer to South Korea 'deeply regrettable' Lee expresses regret over Zelensky's public disclosure of North Korean POWs sent to South Korea

• He warned that disclosure could affect diplomacy, national security, and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded

• The Ukrainian Presidential Office responded that Kyiv had only disclosed the existence of the transfer, not the “long details,” and argued that it would have been “strange” to keep the entire transfer secret.

South Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded

• A Blue House official emphasized that details such as timing, routes, or specific consultations could not be confirmed for security reasons.

Lee calls Ukraine's disclosure of North Korean prisoners' transfer to South Korea 'deeply regrettable'

• Two North Korean soldiers were transferred to South Korea.

South Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded

• U.S. intelligence estimates that more than 12,000 North Korean troops have fought alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

Kyiv Independent

• Capture date: Some sources state the soldiers were captured “in early 2025,” while others specify “January 2025.” Both agree the location was Russia’s Kursk region.

South Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded

• Number of North Korean combatants: The figure of “more than 12,000” comes from U.S. intelligence; other outlets do not provide a comparable estimate, leaving the total force size unverified.

Kyiv Independent

• No public information has been released about the prisoners’ identities, the exact transfer route, or the timeline of their arrival in Seoul.

South Korea slams Zelensky over North Korean POW disclosure

The transfer touches on three sensitive arenas:

South Korea slams Zelensky over North Korean POW disclosure

1. Diplomacy – The disclosure challenges a bilateral confidentiality pact, potentially straining Ukraine-South Korea relations.

South Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded

2. National security – Public knowledge of the POWs’ movements could expose them and their families to retaliation from North Korea.

Lee expresses regret over Zelensky's public disclosure of North Korean POWs sent to South Korea

3. Korean Peninsula stability – Any perceived mishandling of North Korean defectors may influence inter-Korean dialogue and broader regional security calculations.

South Korea’s president reproached Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of POWs from North Korea to Seoul — the Office of the President responded

• “State affairs should be conducted for the sake of the country and its people, not for the interests or popularity of the administration or those in power,” — Lee Jae Myung, south korean president

South Korean president slams Zelenskyy's disclosure of transfer of 2 North Korean prisoners to Seoul