South Korea’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador, Andrii Vieshkin, on Monday, September 28, 2026, to formally protest the public disclosure of a sensitive transfer involving North Korean prisoners of war.
The diplomatic rift centers on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, in which he revealed that two North Korean soldiers captured on the battlefield had been transferred to Seoul. South Korean officials contend the disclosure violated a bilateral agreement to keep the operation confidential to protect the safety of the soldiers’ families remaining in North Korea.
First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo told Vieshkin that the announcement “seriously undermines mutual trust” between the two security partners. The ministry has demanded an official explanation and an apology from Kyiv.
Contradictory Claims Over Secrecy
The core of the dispute involves whether a confidentiality agreement actually existed. Seoul maintains that both nations had a “clear agreement” to keep the transfer secret, citing the extreme humanitarian risks associated with North Korean defectors. However, the Ukrainian presidential office and adviser Dmytro Lytvyn have formally denied the existence of any such pact.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured in Russia’s Kursk region in early 2025 while fighting alongside Russian forces. They remained in Ukrainian custody for approximately 20 months before being transferred to South Korea in July 2026. According to reports, the stakes of their capture were high; one of the soldiers reportedly attempted suicide at the time of his apprehension to avoid being taken prisoner.
Upon their arrival in Seoul, the men expressed a desire to defect. They are currently being processed at the North Korean Refugee Protection Center in Siheung. Under the North Korean Refugees Protection and Settlement Support Act, the government may hold and screen such individuals for up to 90 days to determine their eligibility for resettlement and to ensure national security.
Security and Humanitarian Implications
South Korean officials have historically maintained a policy of “quiet diplomacy” regarding North Korean defectors coming from third countries. This approach is intended to prevent retaliatory actions by the Pyongyang regime against the relatives of those who flee.
The public nature of Zelenskyy’s disclosure has raised concerns within Seoul’s intelligence and diplomatic circles that future cooperation regarding North Korean personnel may be compromised. While South Korea has been a significant supporter of international efforts to assist Ukraine, this incident marks a rare public confrontation.
The Foreign Ministry has not yet indicated whether this trust deficit will affect broader security cooperation or the ongoing discussions regarding the provision of aid to Kyiv. For now, the focus remains on the “North Korean Refugee Protection Center,” where the two soldiers continue their mandatory screening and integration process while the diplomatic fallout continues.
