South Korea Seeks Stronger Ukrainian Apology Over North Korean POW Disclosure

(MENAFN) South Korea said Tuesday that an apology from Ukraine over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war did not meet Seoul’s expectations, raising the possibility of further diplomatic measures.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he had remained in communication with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following the dispute. Cho told lawmakers that messages from his Ukrainian counterpart included an apology but suggested that Seoul considered it insufficient.

“Messages that I received (from Sybiha) included an apology. But there is a difference from the level we expect, so we intend to take firm measures,” Cho said.

South Korea is considering several possible responses, including recalling its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, according to Cho.

The disagreement began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed last month that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces had been transferred to South Korea.

South Korean authorities said Seoul and Kyiv had previously agreed that details of the transfer would remain confidential. According to Seoul, the arrangement was intended to protect the soldiers as well as their relatives in North Korea, and Ukraine had initially requested that the information not be made public.

Ukraine later rejected South Korea’s account that the two countries had reached an agreement to keep the transfer confidential, leading to tensions between the two governments.

Sybiha previously characterized the disagreement as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and said he hoped the issue could be resolved in the near future.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 while reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces. South Korean officials said they arrived in South Korea in mid-September.

The case has drawn particular attention because of the circumstances under which the soldiers were captured and the subsequent discussions over where they should be transferred.

Before the transfer, South Korea and Ukraine had discussed arrangements based on international law and humanitarian principles, while also taking into account the wishes of the North Korean soldiers.

Seoul’s latest comments indicate that the dispute remains unresolved despite the apology conveyed by the Ukrainian foreign minister. The possibility of recalling South Korea’s ambassador underscores the diplomatic significance Seoul attaches to the handling and disclosure of the transfer.

MENAFN06102026000045018846ID1111766293