S Korea demands apology from Ukraine over North Korean POW disclosure

Seoul : South Korea has demanded an explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of breaking a confidentiality agreement by publicly announcing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.

The South Korean presidential office said Ukraine had agreed to keep the transfer private because of security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, particularly for the prisoners and their families.

Seoul said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later announced the transfer during the United Nations General Assembly without adequate consultation. South Korean officials also objected to Ukraine subsequently denying that a non-disclosure agreement had been reached.

Presidential secretary Seong Ghi-hong said the government 'strongly regretted' Ukraine's actions and was considering whether further measures were needed.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured while fighting alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine. Ukraine later transferred them to South Korea, where they are expected to receive assistance and questioning about their circumstances.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had earlier criticised the public disclosure, saying the confidentiality arrangement was important because of the possible consequences for the prisoners and others involved.

Ukraine has rejected Seoul's account. Dmytro Lytvyn, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said Kyiv had only announced that the prisoners had been sent to South Korea and questioned why such a transfer would need to remain secret.

The conflicting accounts have created a diplomatic dispute between the two countries over whether a formal confidentiality agreement existed and how the sensitive transfer should have been handled.