South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has indicated that the country may take unspecified "further action" if Ukraine does not issue a public apology regarding the revelation that two North Korean prisoners of war were sent to South Korea. This disclosure was made by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky during a speech at the UN General Assembly last week, which angered Seoul, as it was intended to remain confidential.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the situation as a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and stated that Kyiv is working to resolve the issue. Lee rejected this characterization on social media, asserting that it concerns the dignity of the Korean people and nation. Lee's office previously stated that Ukraine had requested the confidentiality of the transfer to protect the families of the North Koreans and to avoid criticism over potentially missing an opportunity to exchange them for Ukrainian POWs.
Zelensky's office responded by stating that there was no agreement between the two countries to keep the transfer confidential, further escalating the situation. Domestically, Lee faced criticism from the South Korean opposition, who accused him of attempting to cover up the transfer to appease North Korea.
The two soldiers, who had previously expressed a desire to be sent to South Korea, were among many North Koreans who supported Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Sybiha expressed hope that the situation would be resolved soon, emphasizing the importance of South Korea to Ukraine and expressing a desire for continued cooperation.
In response to the ongoing tensions, Lee accused Ukraine of trying to provoke a conflict on the Korean Peninsula, stating that it is regrettable that instead of acknowledging the facts and apologizing, Ukraine is suggesting a potential military clash between North and South Korea. South Korea has shown support for Ukraine since Russia's invasion but has maintained its policy of not supplying lethal weapons to nations involved in active conflict.