South Korea Demands Apologies After Ukraine Revealed North Korean…
The President of South Korea insists on apologies from Kyiv in the matter of the transfer of two military personnel of North Korea to the President of South Korea...
Consensus
- Two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast in January 2025.
- Ukraine transferred the two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
- President Zelensky disclosed the transfer during a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2025.
- South Korea demanded official explanations and apologies from Ukraine.
- South Korea stated that the transfer was agreed upon under confidentiality.
- South Korea expressed concern over the safety of the prisoners and their families in North Korea.
- The incident damaged trust between Ukraine and South Korea.
- South Korea emphasized that North Koreans are considered citizens under its constitution.
- Ukraine denied having a formal agreement to keep the transfer secret.
- South Korea claimed Ukraine had requested confidentiality due to domestic political concerns.
Points of divergence
- South Korea will now adopt a passive policy toward supporting Ukraine. — vesti
- One of the North Korean soldiers attempted suicide after capture. — vm
- Ukraine claimed that South Korea had initiated discussions about the transfer and that Ukraine had not agreed to secrecy. — novaya_eu
- Ukraine's administration claimed that the agreement on confidentiality was not real, and that Zelensky's statement was truthful. — tg_radiosvoboda
- Zelensky previously published a video of the two North Korean soldiers in January 2025. — meduza
Coverage (20 sources)
- Seoul threatens Kyiv with decisive measures — Вести
- South Korea to take additional measures after Kyiv disclosure of information on POWs — Вечерняя Москва
- Seoul deems Ukraine's apologies over prisoner scandal insufficient — Вечерняя Москва
- Seoul considers Kyiv's apologies for revealing data on North Korean POWs insufficient — Коммерсантъ
- Ukraine apologized for revealing information about handing over North Korean prisoners to South Korea. Seoul considers this insufficient and promises 'decisive measures' — Meduza
- South Korea dissatisfied with Kyiv's apologies — Вести
- Seoul considers Ukraine's apologies for revealing data on prisoners insufficient — Ведомости
- President of South Korea insists on apologies from Kyiv in the story of the transfer of two North Korean military to President of South Korea — BBC News Русская служба
- Journalist Kiselev criticized Zelensky's breach of promise to Seoul — Вести
- President of South Korea insists on apologies from Kyiv in the matter of handing over two North Korean soldiers — BBC News Русская служба
- President of South Korea threatened Kyiv and demanded apologies — Вести
- Seoul threatened Kyiv with 'measures' over refusal to apologize — DW Главное
- President of South Korea threatened Ukraine in case of no apologies — Вечерняя Москва
- South Korea wants official explanations and apologies from Kyiv for disclosure of information about transfer of North Korean soldiers — ASTRA
- South Korea says Zelenskyy revealed information about transfer of two North Korean POWs to gain additional public support — ЭХО / Новости
- Seoul did not promise Kyiv support for handing over prisoners from DPRK, said South Korean lawmaker — DW Главное
- Political scientist Svetov: Zelensky betrayed South Korea — Вести
- In Seoul, trust in Kyiv ended after Zelensky's statement on DPRK POWs — Вести
- South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Ukrainian ambassador over Zelensky's statements on North Korean captives — Вечерняя Москва
- South Korea demanded explanations and apologies from Zelenskyy, who boasted about handing over DPRK prisoners to Koreans at the UN —… — Mash
Key entities
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