Why South Korea is demanding an apology from Ukraine over North Korean PoWs

Seoul says Kyiv agreed to a nondisclosure agreement over the prisoners but broke it.

x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info South Korean President Lee Jae Myung accused Ukraine of disclosing the information without regard to relations between the two Koreas or loss of life [File: Quetzalli Nicte-Ha/Reuters] By Edna Mohamed and Reuters Published On 28 Sep 2026 28 Sep 2026 South Korea has demanded an official apology and explanation from Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.

Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a statement on Sunday that the president’s office expressed “strong regret over Ukraine’s unilateral disclosure and its subsequent false announcement that there had not been a non-disclosure agreement”.

He said Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the prisoners’ transfer with Seoul through various channels and had requested secrecy.