South Korea summons Ukraine acting ambassador over POW transfer disclosure

Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo expressed “strong regret” over the announcement. South Korean officials say the disclosure violated an agreement to keep the transfer secret—a move intended to protect the soldiers’ families and maintain diplomatic trust, according to the BBC.

A Breach of Confidence at the UN

During the address, Zelensky revealed that the two prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea.

The soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast in early 2025. According to the BBC, the two men had previously informed local media of their desire to be sent to South Korea.

President Lee Jae Myung described the public disclosure as “greatly disappointing,” characterizing the transfer as a “highly sensitive issue” involving national security. While the office of President Lee stated that Ukraine had indicated the soldiers would be mentioned in the UN address, they did not expect the actual transfer to be revealed.

Conflicting Accounts of Secrecy

Seoul alleges that Kyiv sought secrecy to avoid domestic criticism that it had bypassed the opportunity to exchange the North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The dispute sharpened when Zelensky’s office responded by claiming that no non-disclosure agreement existed between the two nations. Seoul responded by demanding an apology for what it called “announcing a falsehood.”

Domestic Fallout for President Lee

The revelation has sparked political volatility at home. The South Korean opposition accused President Lee of attempting to cover up the transfer to appease Pyongyang.

Lee’s party has pursued a conciliatory approach toward North Korea in an attempt to reopen peace talks. According to the BBC, these efforts have seen little success.

Pressure for Lethal Military Aid

This diplomatic row coincides with intensifying Ukrainian pressure on Seoul to provide lethal military aid. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelensky, stated that South Korea cannot remain a “distant observer” while North Korean troops participate in the war in Europe.

Podolyak argued that transferring defense technologies to Kyiv is a matter of South Korea’s own long-term security interests to contain an “aggressive totalitarian axis.”

South Korea has historically refused to provide lethal weapons to countries engaged in active warfare. In July, Seoul announced a $100 million assistance package for Ukraine, but the office of President Lee clarified that this expands on previous non-lethal support, including personal armor, helmets, and medical equipment.

The Russian Retaliation Threat

Seoul’s position is further complicated by its relationship with Moscow. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, South Korea has worked to maintain trade and diplomatic ties with Russia, viewing Moscow and China as essential partners for influencing Pyongyang.

Russia’s foreign ministry has warned it would have “no choice but to retaliate” if South Korea provides arms to Ukraine, though it did not specify the nature of the retaliation, according to the BBC.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry declined to comment when approached by the BBC regarding the summoning of its acting ambassador.