Ukraine FM calls Seoul spat a 'misunderstanding' after prisoner transfer disclosure
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday he hopes to resolve a diplomatic spat with South Korea over Kyiv's disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. South Korea's presidential office demanded an explanation and apology this week, saying Ukraine falsely denied an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. Sybiha called the dispute a 'diplomatic misunderstanding' and said Ukraine is working to resolve it.
Key Facts
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the dispute with South Korea a 'diplomatic misunderstanding' and said he hopes it will be resolved in the very near future.
- South Korea's presidential office demanded an explanation and apology from Ukraine for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed the transfer while addressing the UN General Assembly last week, angering Seoul which expected the transfer to remain secret.
- Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in January 2025, the first soldiers captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war in 2024.
- Zelenskiy said this week that more than 8,000 North Korean troops remained in Russia and 10,000 were being trained for a future deployment.
The Diplomatic Spat
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told journalists at an event that he would not call the situation an incident but rather a diplomatic misunderstanding. He said Ukraine is working to resolve the situation and expressed hope for momentum, continuation, and concrete results with South Korea. South Korea's presidential office this week demanded an explanation and apology from Ukraine for disclosing the transfer. Seoul also said Ukraine falsely denied that the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential.
Prisoner Transfer Background
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war while addressing the UN General Assembly last week. South Korea had sought to keep the transfer confidential given security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families, a senior official in Seoul said. Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in January 2025, the first soldiers to be captured alive since Pyongyang entered the war in 2024, assisting Russia.
North Korean Involvement
North Korea has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Russia, including a mutual defence pact. Pyongyang dispatched an estimated 14,000 troops to help Moscow evict Ukrainian troops from its Kursk region. Zelenskiy said this week that more than 8,000 North Korean troops remained in Russia and 10,000 were being trained for a future deployment.