South stresses that there was 'clear understanding' with Ukraine over nondisclosure of North POW transfer
A presidential spokesperson confirmed that Seoul had not yet received an official response from Kyiv and reiterated that the issue would not be linked to a possible review of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
North Korean prisoners of war who were deployed to Russia, captured by Ukrainian forces and recently sent to South KoreaMBC
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that South Korea and Ukraine had previously reached a “clear understanding” regarding keeping the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POW) to Seoul confidential, pushing back against Kyiv’s denial of such an agreement.
South Korea has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine, accusing it of breaching a nondisclosure agreement over the transfer of the two North Korean POWs to Seoul, then denying that such an agreement existed.
“We understand that the two sides reached a clear understanding during consultations at various levels to keep the matter confidential, given its implications for the safety of the soldiers and their families,” ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said at a press briefing.
“The two countries had held close consultations on the issue in a manner consistent with the prisoners’ free will, international law and humanitarian principles,” he continued.
Citing a senior Ukrainian official, the Financial Times reported on Monday that no agreement existed at the presidential level, though the issue was discussed at their foreign ministers’ meeting in June.
In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that Kyiv had transferred the two North Korean soldiers, who were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region.
President Lee Jae Myung called the disclosure “very disappointing,” as the issue is a very sensitive matter that could affect diplomacy and national security and the security environment on the Korean Peninsula.
On Monday, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo summoned Andrii Vieshkin, Ukraine’s acting ambassador to South Korea, to convey Seoul’s strong objection and call for measures to prevent a recurrence.
Two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces eat food sent by North Korean defector groups while meeting with a documentary producer at a prisoner camp in Ukraine.YONHAP
“We have yet to receive an official explanation from the Ukrainian side, but I expect Ukraine to review the matter and convey its position to us through an appropriate channel,” the spokesperson Park said.
“Communication channels with Ukraine remain open, and we will continue to engage with [them] on various issues going forward.”
The spokesperson also made clear that the issue would not be linked to a possible review of South Korea’s humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, joint postwar reconstruction efforts or other matters.
“This is a humanitarian issue that is not linked to any other precondition or subject,” he said.
Regarding a local media report alleging that the government had persuaded one of the North Korean POWs to come to South Korea, a senior ministry official said that both had consistently expressed their intention to come to South Korea during several consular interviews.
