<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The South Korean government has expressed concern following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement that two North Korean soldiers have been transferred to South Korea, fearing the impact on inter-Korean relations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Zelensky mentioned the two North Korean prisoners of war during his remarks to the United Nations General Assembly last week, stating that the soldiers were “not easy to capture alive” but had been successfully handed over to South Korea.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Seoul claims that the handover was intended to remain confidential, with President Lee Jae Myung expressing anger over the breach of operational security. Ukraine has denied that any confidentiality agreement was in place, further aggravating tensions with South Korea.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“It is in itself a very serious matter that the Ukrainian side violated the confidentiality agreement between the two countries and made the disclosure unilaterally,” said Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, on Sunday night. “But the Ukrainian presidential press office’s false statement that there had been no confidentiality agreement seriously undermines trust between the two governments and gravely damages friendly relations between the two countries.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="Lee Jae Myung" class="wp-image-4745677" height="682" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AP26261105752391.jpg?w=696" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, Pool)</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The South Korean government is “considering additional measures that may be necessary regarding this matter,” according to the presidential secretary, without providing further details.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On Monday, the Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Seoul demanded an official apology and clarification on the situation.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“From the perspective of those who advertised the repatriation to the whole world with enthusiastic fanfare to show off their achievements – regardless of the impact on inter-Korean relations, the loss of life, or the damage to national interests – they likely not only cannot understand our government’s efforts to keep it confidential but may even wonder if there is something wrong with it,” Lee stated shortly after Zelensky’s address in New York. “I do not know the reasons behind Ukraine’s disclosure in violation of the non-disclosure agreement, but it is deeply regrettable.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">James Kim, director of the Korea Program at the Stimson Center, commented that Zelensky’s disclosure has placed Lee and his government in a difficult position, potentially forcing them to compromise their efforts to normalize relations with North Korea or face domestic backlash.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The current administration in Seoul wants to re-engage with North Korea, and taking on prisoners of war from Ukraine would complicate that plan because North Korea would see that as an act that is in concert with their adversary,” Kim explained.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kim Jong Un’s regime has not publicly commented on the situation yet. However, if it does, a demand for repatriation will be complicated by the two detainees’ requests for asylum in South Korea. Both have expressed a desire to integrate into the southern half of the peninsula and live normal lives.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“[Repatriating the prisoners] can potentially be looked upon as a violation of human rights because they know that the North Korean government is not very tolerant of anyone that decides to defect or has expressed the desire to do so. And so returning them would effectively mean that they would either be tortured or they would be imprisoned for life or even put to death,” Kim added.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="North Korea military officers" class="wp-image-4745675" height="682" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AP26252105512458.jpg?w=696" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">North Korean officers gather on the occasion of the 78th founding anniversary of the country at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Number two, I think that it shows the weakness of the administration — that it is not really bargaining or dealing with North Korea on equal grounds,” he continued. “And thirdly … you have a conservative opposition that will be using this kind of incident to politicize this kind of behavior and label the progressive administration as being pro-North Korean.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A similar political issue contributed to a previous administration’s downfall and created a lasting backlash that ultimately led to court convictions for government officials.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In 2019, two fishermen were captured by South Korean forces on the country’s east coast. Then-President Moon Jae-in and his administration condemned the North Koreans as “dangerous criminals” and “human scum” after it was determined that they killed over a dozen crewmates in a mutiny against their captain before sailing over the maritime border. They were deported back to the North.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">North Korean escapees who return to their country are almost universally punished with imprisonment, torture, or death. Human rights groups condemned the two fishermen’s deportations as a functional death sentence, while political opponents framed the handover as Seoul caving to Pyongyang.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The next administration, led by now-impeached President Yook Suk Yeol, reopened the case in 2022. The Seoul Central District Court found four former officials guilty of criminal acts for the deportation orders, though all of them received suspended sentences.</p>