South Korea is examining why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky chose to publicly announce the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. According to South Korea’s intelligence service, one possible motive for the disclosure was to rally greater public support for potential deliveries of weapons to Ukraine. However, this remains an assessment by the South Korean intelligence service, not a confirmed intention on Zelensky’s part.
Two North Korean Soldiers Relocated to South Korea
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in early 2025 in the Kursk region, where they had been fighting alongside Russian troops. Both subsequently expressed the wish to resettle in South Korea.
Zelensky announced their transfer during his speech at the UN General Assembly in September. Available information indicates that the two men arrived in South Korea in mid-September.
The issue quickly escalated into a diplomatic dispute between Kyiv and Seoul.
Seoul Says Confidentiality Should Have Been Maintained
The South Korean side initially stated that there was an agreement between the two countries to keep information about the transfer confidential, intended to protect the POWs and their families in North Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called the public announcement regrettable, and Seoul demanded an explanation from Kyiv. The Ukrainian side, however, questioned whether any formal confidentiality agreement existed. Zelensky’s adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, argued that Ukraine disclosed only the fact of the transfer, not any personal details of the soldiers.
Aktualizovane.sk previously reported on the dispute, noting that South Korea accuses Ukraine of breaching a secret prisoner agreement.
Arms Issue Now in the Spotlight
Recent developments have pushed the diplomatic row even further. South Korean lawmaker Ju Yong-ha stated that, according to the country’s intelligence service, one reason for the disclosure could have been an attempt to influence public opinion in Seoul in favor of supplying weapons and other aid to Ukraine.
However, this claim cannot currently be regarded as a confirmed motive for Zelensky’s announcement. It is an interpretation attributed to the intelligence service and relayed publicly by the lawmaker.
South Korea provides Ukraine with humanitarian and other forms of support, but the subject of direct military aid remains a sensitive issue. So far, Seoul has not supplied Kyiv with lethal weaponry.
Diplomatic Rift Could Have Broader Impact
The situation is further complicated by the fact that South Korea is directly confronted with growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. North Korean soldiers have been deployed on the Russian side in the fighting against Ukraine.
The disclosure of the fate of the two POWs is thus not merely a question of resettlement. For Seoul, it is a sensitive security and diplomatic issue, intersecting with the complex relationships among the Korean Peninsula, Russia, and Ukraine.
Aktualizovane.sk has also covered recent tensions on the Korean Peninsula, including a mine explosion in the demilitarized zone that injured three officers.
The key question now is whether the dispute between Kyiv and Seoul can be resolved through dialogue or if it will affect future negotiations on support for Ukraine.
More news on Ukraine and its military situation
READ ALSO
Ukraine running low on Patriot missiles. Russia intensifies attacks, with greatest concern about the coming winter
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
