--- title: "Seoul Summons Ukrainian Envoy Amid Diplomatic Scandal Over North Korean Prisoners" description: "South Korea's Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine's envoy over Kyiv's public disclosure of transferring two North Korean POWs, which Seoul views as a confidentiality breach." date: 2026-09-29T02:16:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/seoul-summons-ukrainian-envoy-over-north-korean-prisoners tags: [south-korea, ukraine, north-korea, diplomatic-scandal, pows] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Seoul Summons Ukrainian Envoy Amid Diplomatic Scandal Over North Korean Prisoners ![Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/29/seul-vyzval-posla-ukrainy-iz-za-plennykh-kndr/seul-vyzval-posla-ukrainy-iz-za-plennykh-kndr-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - South Korea summoned Ukrainian Chargé d'Affaires Andrii Veshkin on September 28, 2026. - The conflict stems from Kyiv's public disclosure of transferring two North Korean POWs. - Seoul claims a breach of a non-disclosure agreement and demands official explanations. - The Ukrainian side completely denies the existence of any confidentiality agreements. On September 28, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea decided to summon Ukraine's Chargé d'Affaires in Seoul, Andrii Veshkin. The catalyst for this severe diplomatic step was Kyiv's public disclosure regarding the transfer of two captive North Korean soldiers to South Korean authorities. The incident has caused significant resonance in Seoul's political circles, jeopardizing the current level of bilateral engagement and partnership between the two nations. ### The Essence of the Diplomatic Conflict During an official meeting, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Yoon-joo conveyed Seoul's firm stance to the Ukrainian diplomat. The main grievance of the Korean side was Kyiv's categorical denial that prior confidentiality agreements existed. Seoul emphasizes that leaking classified information about the transfer of soldiers seriously undermines mutual trust. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and his office insist that secrecy was necessary to protect the safety of the prisoners themselves and their relatives remaining in North Korea. ### Contradictory Data The situation is accompanied by a direct confrontation of versions between officials of the two states. The South Korean side claims there was a clear non-disclosure agreement between Kyiv and Seoul regarding the operation to transfer North Korean servicemen captured in the Kursk region. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side, represented by presidential communications advisor Dmytro Lytvyn, completely refutes the existence of any such agreements, stating it would be wrong to hide information about the fate of prisoners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly announced the transfer of the military personnel back on September 23 during his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York. ### Context and Seoul's Legal Grounds Two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk sector back in January 2025, with one of them attempting suicide during capture. In December 2025, they sent official letters expressing a desire to move to South Korea. According to the constitutional norms of the Republic of Korea, northerners are formally considered citizens of the country, which places a legal obligation on Seoul to accept them if they so desire. Until recently, the South Korean government avoided publicly confirming the arrival of the military due to high humanitarian and security risks. ### Consequences and Seoul's Demands As a result of the ongoing crisis, the South Korean Foreign Ministry has demanded official explanations and an apology from Ukraine for breaching confidentiality. In turn, Chargé d'Affaires Andrii Veshkin promised to promptly convey the full scope of the Korean side's grievances to official Kyiv. Experts note that this incident could significantly complicate further humanitarian and defense cooperation between the countries, requiring measured steps from diplomats in both capitals to de-escalate tensions. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Сеул вызвал посла Украины из-за скандала с пленными КНДР](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/seul-viklikav-posla-ukrayini-cherez-skandal-1790647986.html) - Официальная информация о вызове ио посла Украины Андрея Вешкина в МИД Южной Кореи из-за передачи пленных КНДР. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why did South Korea summon the Ukrainian envoy? **A:** The reason was Kyiv's public revelation of information regarding the transfer of two North Korean POWs, which Seoul regarded as a violation of a confidentiality agreement. ### Q: How does the Ukrainian side comment on Seoul's accusations? **A:** The Office of the President of Ukraine, represented by advisor Dmytro Lytvyn, denies the existence of any non-disclosure agreements regarding the transfer of prisoners.