The Office of the President of Ukraine has rejected accusations from Seoul regarding the violation of confidentiality agreements during the transfer of captured North Korean soldiers. Kyiv emphasized that the Ukrainian side had not committed to completely hiding this information from the public.
Position of the Office of the President of Ukraine
According to a source in the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyiv never conceals information concerning prisoners, as citizens have the right to know about such processes. At the same time, it was noted that the Ukrainian side did not disclose significant details of the transfer process itself.
Contradictory Data
The diplomatic tension was sparked by accusations from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who stated that Kyiv violated preliminary confidentiality agreements. According to Seoul, disclosing the fact that two prisoners of war were handed over creates diplomatic risks and threatens the safety of these soldiers' families remaining in North Korea. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side insists that only the mere fact of the transfer was announced publicly without revealing sensitive details, and completely keeping such information secret would look inappropriate.
Background
The conflict erupted after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially announced the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to the South Korean side from the UN General Assembly rostrum on September 23, 2026. According to the Ukrainian leader, capturing such prisoners is extremely difficult; in particular, one of the North Korean servicemen attempted suicide upon detention.
