---
title: "South Korea Confirms It Knew About Zelenskyy's Statement on North Korean Prisoners"
description: "South Korea stated that Kyiv warned it about a possible mention of North Korean POWs in a UN speech, but Seoul expected complete confidentiality."
date: 2026-09-27T02:26:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/south-korea-confirms-knew-about-zelenskyy-statement-north-korean-prisoners
tags: [south-korea, ukraine, north-korea, un, zelenskyy]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

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

![Flags of Ukraine and South Korea against the background of diplomatic talks](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/27/yuzhnaya-koreya-znala-o-zayavlenii-zelenskogo-po-plennym-kndr/yuzhnaya-koreya-znala-o-zayavlenii-zelenskogo-po-plennym-kndr-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Ukraine notified South Korea in advance about the possible mention of North Korean POWs
- Seoul expected a non-public format for resolving the repatriation issue
- The South Korean president called the public disclosure regrettable

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.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Южная Корея подтвердила, что знала о заявлении Зеленского по поводу пленных КНДР](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivdenna-koreya-pidtverdila-shcho-znala-zayavu-1790475652.html) - Данные подтверждают предварительное уведомление Сеула украинской стороной.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Did South Korea know about Ukraine's plans to mention North Korean prisoners?
**A:** Yes, Seoul was warned in advance via diplomatic channels, though exact wording was not disclosed by Kyiv.

### Q: What was the reaction from South Korea's leadership?
**A:** South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called the public disclosure deeply regrettable due to the issue's high sensitivity.