South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has warned that Seoul could take further measures against Ukraine if Kyiv refuses to acknowledge what South Korea says was a confidentiality agreement over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war and issue a public apology.
Lee issued the warning on Friday, saying South Korea would take “additional measures” if Ukraine continued to deny the agreement and refuse to apologise.
The diplomatic dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during his address to the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces to South Korea.
Seoul says the transfer was covered by an understanding between the two countries that the matter would remain confidential, partly because of concerns over the safety of the soldiers and their families. Lee previously described the disclosure as a breach of that agreement.
Ukraine, however, has denied that such a confidentiality agreement existed. Kyiv has also described the dispute as a diplomatic misunderstanding and indicated that it wants to preserve its relationship with South Korea.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was working to resolve the disagreement, describing South Korea as an important partner.
“We are working on it. For us, South Korea is an important country. And I really hope for momentum, continuation, and concrete results that we are truly achieving with them,” Sybiha said.
Lee also criticised remarks from Ukraine suggesting that an imminent conflict between North and South Korea was possible, saying such comments could contribute to tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea has already requested an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, while diplomatic communication between the two countries remains ongoing.
The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces after being deployed to Russia as part of North Korea’s military support for Moscow in its war against Ukraine. South Korea subsequently received the soldiers, who had expressed a desire to settle in the country.
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