Full Breakdown
South Korea and Ukraine Clash Over Confidential Transfer of North Korean POWs
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The Disputed Disclosure
At the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean soldiers captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 to South Korea. South Korean officials said the transfer was covered by a confidentiality agreement and expressed “strong regret” that Kyiv disclosed it publicly. The dispute centers on whether such an agreement existed and the diplomatic fallout from its alleged breach.
Diplomatic Background
South Korea and Ukraine first discussed the fate of captured North Korean personnel during a foreign-minister meeting on July 8 2026 at a NATO summit in Ankara. Both sides said any repatriation would follow international law and remain confidential to avoid complications on the Korean Peninsula. The issue resurfaced during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Mexico in late September, when he reiterated Seoul’s position.
Numbers on North Korean Involvement
- South Korean intelligence estimates ?14,000-15,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to support Russia since 2024.
- Ukrainian and South Korean sources cite ?15,000 troops.
- Independent assessments mention ?16,000 personnel.
- South Korean officials state >6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded.
Official Positions
South Korea’s senior presidential secretary for public relations Seong Ghi-hong said the confidentiality agreement was meant to protect the prisoners, their families and regional security, and that Ukraine’s disclosure “seriously hampers bilateral trust.” President Lee Jae Myung called the disclosure “deeply regrettable” and warned it could jeopardize diplomacy and security.
Ukraine’s communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn denied any agreement, describing the announcement as consistent with an “open country.” Media adviser Oksana Torop initially claimed a pact existed, but her statement was later disputed by Lytvyn.
Domestic and International Criticism
In Seoul, the opposition People Power Party accused the Lee administration of secrecy and demanded transparency about the prisoners’ arrival. A senior opposition lawmaker noted the two men likely arrived in early September and questioned the delay in public acknowledgment.
Within Ukraine, Torop labeled Zelensky’s UN remarks a “show” that violated a confidential agreement, while Lytvyn defended the president’s right to disclose the transfer.
Conflicting Accounts and Unresolved Issues
- Confidentiality agreement: South Korean officials assert a bilateral non-disclosure pact; Ukrainian officials deny it.
- Troop and casualty figures: Estimates range from 14,000-15,000 to nearly 16,000 North Korean troops, with casualties reported as “more than 6,000.”
- Transfer details: South Korea declined to confirm timing, route or current location of the prisoners; Ukrainian statements only confirm the handover.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The issue of bringing North Korean prisoners to South Korea is a highly sensitive one that could have a major impact on diplomacy, security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.” — Lee Jae Myung
- “These guys are not easy to capture alive. One of them, when he realized he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself. And he was shocked that fate did not let him die,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- “We express strong regret over the Ukrainian government’s unilateral disclosure in violation of the confidentiality agreement, and its subsequent false public statement denying the existence of an agreement, and demand an official explanation and apology,” — Seong Ghi-hong
- “There was no such (confidential) agreement. That is not true,” — Dmytro Lytvyn
What May Follow
Seoul said it is “considering additional measures” regarding the breach, though no specific actions or timelines have been announced. Both capitals continue diplomatic consultations to manage the fallout and to determine how future prisoner-of-war transfers will be handled under international and humanitarian law.