South Korea Confirms It Knew About Zelenskyy's Statement on North Korean Prisoners

The South Korean presidential administration has confirmed that the Ukrainian side informed Seoul in advance about a potential public mention of North Korean prisoners of war. The incident occurred ahead of the Ukrainian leadership's address at the international arena, sparking wide resonance in diplomatic circles and mass media.

Diplomatic Communication Channels and Seoul's Warnings

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, official Kyiv notified the South Korean side through diplomatic channels that the speech might include information about the transfer of two North Korean citizens. Representatives of the South Korean presidential administration noted that Ukrainian colleagues asked for understanding regarding this step, but exact wording and the degree of publicity were not provided. Seoul had expected the process to remain confidential.

Statements at the UN General Assembly and South Korea's Reaction

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, the Ukrainian leader officially announced the transfer to South Korea of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region in 2025. Mentioning this fact drew sharp criticism from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who called the public disclosure "deeply regrettable." Seoul had insisted on keeping the repatriation non-public due to its extreme sensitivity for national security.

Contradictory Data

Notable discrepancies emerged in how the parties viewed the situation. The South Korean side stated it insisted on absolute secrecy and reaching an agreement on repatriation without publicity for security reasons. Meanwhile, Kyiv, recognizing the scale of North Korean troop involvement in hostilities on Russian territory, deemed it necessary to bring this humanitarian and military-political aspect to the international level, despite Seoul's dissatisfaction.

Implications for Bilateral Relations and Humanitarian Aspects

This situation underscores the complexity of interaction between Ukraine and South Korea regarding security issues and compliance with international humanitarian law. The captured North Korean soldiers expressed a voluntary desire to move to South Korea. The future fate of such individuals must be regulated by Seoul's national legislation and international standards, though the public scandal could impact future behind-the-scenes agreements between the states.