Seoul has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of breaching a confidentiality agreement by publicly disclosing a secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war captured in Russia. The disclosure, which Zelensky described during his UN address on September 23 as being “not easy to capture them alive,” was condemned by South Korea as a deliberate PR stunt that falsely denied the existence of any prior arrangement.
South Korea’s presidential office escalated diplomatic tensions with a statement expressing “strong regret” over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and subsequent false public denial of an agreement. Senior presidential secretary for public relations Seong Ghi-hong demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, adding that Seoul is reviewing unspecified “further necessary measures.”
According to South Korean officials, the two governments had previously discussed the transfer through multiple channels, with Ukraine requesting that the arrangement remain secret. Kiev reportedly feared publicizing the transfer could trigger domestic criticism for surrendering North Korean soldiers who might have been exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. The disclosure occurred amid reports that Pyongyang deployed troops to assist Russia in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Region, Russia in 2024-25.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung sharply rebuked Zelensky, accusing him of prioritizing short-term political gains over national interests and labeling the breach “deeply regrettable.” He warned that individuals endangering lives and security for political purposes could be termed “killers or traitors.”
Ukraine denied any secrecy agreement existed. Zelensky’s adviser Dmitry Litvin insisted there was no agreement to remain silent, while a source within the Ukrainian presidential office claimed Ukrainians have the right to know what happens to prisoners captured by their forces. Oksana Torop, a media adviser to Ukraine’s former top commander-turned-ambassador to Britain, Valery Zaluzhny, stated that a confidentiality agreement did exist and criticized Zelensky’s announcement as a “show” and “exaggerated publicity.”
