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South Korea threatens Ukraine with 'further action' if Kyiv does not apologise over North Korean prisoner row

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.

A North Korean soldier captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine — two such prisoners were secretly transferred to Seoul, triggering South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's demand for a public apology from Kyiv.
A North Korean soldier captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine — two such prisoners were secretly transferred to Seoul, triggering South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's demand for a public apology from Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the UN General Assembly last week, revealed the secret transfer of the two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul — the disclosure South Korea says broke a confidential agreement with Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the UN General Assembly last week, revealed the secret transfer of the two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul — the disclosure South Korea says broke a confidential agreement with Kyiv.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has accused Ukraine of trying to "bring war on the Korean Peninsula" after Volodymyr Zelensky publicly revealed that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to Seoul. Lee demanded a formal public apology, warning of unspecified "further action" if Kyiv refuses, after Zelensky disclosed the transfer to the UN General Assembly last week — a move Seoul insists was meant to stay secret. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called it a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and said Kyiv was actively working toward a resolution, but Lee rejected that framing on X.

The two North Korean soldiers, captured while fighting for Russia, had expressed a wish to go to South Korea in interviews with local media.

Seoul insists it was Ukraine that requested secrecy, partly to shield the soldiers' families and avoid criticism that Kyiv had passed up a prisoner exchange.

Zelensky's office flatly denied any confidentiality agreement existed, deepening the rift — and Lee faces opposition accusations at home that he concealed the transfer in order to avoid antagonising Pyongyang.

MoreThe TimesSouth Korea threatens Ukraine in row over North Korean prisonersBBC NewsSeoul warns 'further action' if Ukraine does not apologise over prisoner-of-war rowNY PostSouth Korea’s President Lee threatens action against Ukraine over transfer of North Korean soldiersAPSeoul’s anger with Kyiv over POWs may be driven by worries about its ties to North KoreaReutersSouth Korea's Lee threatens action against Ukraine over transfer of North Korean soldiers
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