Seoul Says Ukraine’s Apology Over North Korean POW Disclosure Falls Short
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said an apology from Ukraine did not meet South Korea’s expectations after Kyiv disclosed the confidential transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
South Korea has received an apology from Ukraine over the disclosure of a confidential transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, but the message did not meet the government’s expectations, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday.
Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry, saying he had remained in contact with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Messages from Sybiha included an apology, Cho said, but Seoul believes there is still a gap between Ukraine’s response and the level of accountability it expects.
The dispute arose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed last month that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul subsequently demanded an official explanation and apology, maintaining that the two governments had agreed to keep the transfer confidential. Zelenskyy’s office later denied that such an agreement existed.
Cho told lawmakers that confidentiality had been intended to protect the soldiers and their families, who remain in North Korea. He also said the Ukrainian side had initially requested that the transfer not be made public.
The foreign minister said Seoul plans to take firm measures and is reviewing several possible responses. He acknowledged that recalling South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, was among the options raised during the audit, though no final decision was announced.
Sybiha has previously characterized the episode as a diplomatic misunderstanding and expressed hope that it could be resolved. Cho offered a personal interpretation of Zelenskyy’s decision, suggesting the Ukrainian president may have sought to show the United Nations that Ukraine had acted appropriately as a liberal democracy. He emphasized that this was his own assessment.
The two soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. According to South Korean officials, they arrived in South Korea in mid-September. Their transfer carried particular sensitivity because of the possible consequences for relatives still living under the North Korean government.
Despite the disagreement, Seoul has continued to pursue a diplomatic resolution while underscoring the importance of its relationship with Ukraine. Cho’s comments indicate that discussions are continuing, but that South Korea does not yet regard Kyiv’s response as sufficient to close the matter.