POW dispute strains South Korea-Ukraine ties
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
South Korea has escalated a diplomatic protest against Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed at the UN General Assembly last Wednesday that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to Seoul following more than a year of negotiations. Seoul says the disclosure violated a confidentiality arrangement meant to protect the prisoners and their families, while Kyiv disputes that any non-disclosure agreement was breached. South Korea summoned Ukraine's acting ambassador, demanded an explanation and apology, and said it was reviewing additional measures in response. Analysts cited by SCMP say the dispute could sour ties with Kyiv, complicate Seoul's relations with North Korea and Russia, and create unease in Washington.
Key Points
- Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo summoned acting Ukrainian ambassador Andrii Vieshkin and lodged a formal complaint over Zelensky's public disclosure.
- President Lee Jae Myung called the transfer issue highly sensitive for national security and described the disclosure as greatly disappointing.
- Seoul said Ukraine had originally requested confidentiality and later breached that understanding without sufficient prior explanation or consultation.
- Zelensky's adviser Dmytro Lytvyn denied any non-disclosure breach, arguing it would be wrong to conceal where a prisoner of war was sent.
- The two North Koreans were captured in Russia's Kursk Oblast in early 2025 and had earlier told local media they wanted resettlement in South Korea.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers tracking the Ukraine war and Northeast Asian security, the dispute shows how a humanitarian and military issue can quickly become a wider diplomatic problem involving Seoul, Kyiv, Pyongyang and Moscow. If South Korea curbs some support for Ukraine, it could affect the political balance around aid to Kyiv and sharpen regional tensions already linked to North Korea's role in the war.