Seoul Demands an Apology from Kyiv After Revealing the Transfer of Two North Korean Soldiers to It

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South Korea demanded an official apology from Ukraine after Kyiv denied the existence of an agreement between the two sides regarding the confidentiality of the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces.

The dispute arose following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement before the United Nations General Assembly that his country had transferred two North Korean soldiers to South Korea, noting that "capturing them alive was not an easy task."

The escalating dispute between the two sides threatens to complicate Kyiv's efforts to obtain weapons from its allies, including South Korea, to counter Russian attacks.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol responded to Zelensky, questioning in a post on "X": "I do not understand why the Ukrainian side violated the agreement and made the matter public," expressing his "disappointment."

In contrast, Zelensky's assistant Dmytro Litvin commented that Ukraine is an "open country," expressing surprise at the secret delivery of the two soldiers. He added to reporters: "We only revealed the fact that they were sent to the Republic of Korea, although the story is long and detailed."

However, Seoul considered the step a breach of trust between the two countries.

Song Gi-hong, the chief secretary for media affairs at the South Korean presidency, stated in a statement that "the Ukrainian side's violation of the confidentiality agreement between the two countries and its unilateral disclosure of information is in itself a very serious matter."

He added that "the incorrect claim issued by the Ukrainian presidential press office that there is no confidentiality agreement severely undermines the trust between the two governments and causes significant damage to the friendly relations between them."

He confirmed that the South Korean presidency demands "clarification and official apologies," adding that Seoul is considering "additional measures that may be necessary" in this regard, without disclosing their nature.

At the beginning of last year, Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting among the units sent by Pyongyang to support Russian forces in the war.

One of the soldiers stated that he served in a reconnaissance unit and that some North Korean soldiers received training on using Russian military equipment, adding that he was conscripted into the army at the age of 17 and has remained in service since then.

A South Korean lawmaker previously stated that the two soldiers expressed a desire to live a "normal life" in South Korea.

Under the South Korean constitution, all Koreans, including residents of North Korea, are considered South Korean citizens.

The dispute could overshadow Ukraine's requests for weapons from South Korea. It is noted that Seoul has not yet provided Kyiv with lethal weapons, relying on internal restrictions that prevent military assistance to countries engaged in wars, but it has been considering supplying defensive equipment, especially after North Korea sent troops to support Russia.