---
title: "Ukraine Works to Promptly Resolve Diplomatic Dispute with Seoul Over North Korean Prisoners"
description: "Ukraine and South Korea are engaged in intensive dialogue to resolve a dispute over the public disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners."
date: 2026-10-01T20:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-and-south-korea-resolve-north-korean-prisoner-dispute
tags: [ukraine, south-korea, north-korea, diplomacy, prisoners]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukraine Works to Promptly Resolve Diplomatic Dispute with Seoul Over North Korean Prisoners

![Flags of Ukraine and South Korea against the background of diplomatic consultations](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/01/ukraina-i-yuzhnaya-koreya-uregulirovanie-spora-kndr/ukraina-i-yuzhnaya-koreya-uregulirovanie-spora-kndr-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Kyiv and Seoul are negotiating to resolve the misunderstanding over North Korean prisoners
- Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the situation a diplomatic misunderstanding
- South Korea expressed dissatisfaction with the public announcement of the transfer

Kyiv is making all necessary efforts to swiftly resolve the emerging diplomatic misunderstanding with South Korea regarding the transfer of two North Korean service members. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Seoul remains a crucial and reliable partner for the Ukrainian state, with solid channels of cooperation established.

### Diplomatic Misunderstanding Instead of Conflict

Commenting on the situation to the media, the Ukrainian minister chose to refrain from sharp formulations and the term «incident», describing the event as a working diplomatic misunderstanding. According to Sybiha, he maintains daily direct contact with his South Korean counterpart, holding intensive consultations to clear up all accumulated issues.

### Background and Core of the Dispute

The tension arose following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2025, where it was publicly announced that Ukraine had handed over two North Korean soldiers captured in the Kursk region in January 2025 to South Korea. Seoul had expected the operation to remain secret for the safety of the soldiers' families, while the Ukrainian side stated there were no written confidentiality agreements.

### Contradictory Data

While official Kyiv insists on the absence of strict non-disclosure memorandums, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds a different position. On September 28, 2025, South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister summoned the Ukrainian diplomat, stating that the disclosure undermined mutual trust and demanding official explanations and apologies.

### Prospects for Bilateral Cooperation

Despite current frictions and the diplomat summon, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry remains optimistic and expects positive dynamics. Kyiv is interested in continuing a constructive dialogue and achieving concrete results in cooperation with South Korea.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Украина работает над тем, чтобы быстро уладить спор с Сеулом из-за пленных КНДР](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ukrayina-pratsyue-tim-shchob-shvidko-vladnati-1790886484.html) - Основной источник информации о заявлениях министра иностранных дел Андрея Сибиги.
- [Chosun: Южная Корея отказалась поставлять ПВО Украине из-за КНДР и России](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8907333) - Подтверждено по источнику kommersant.ru
- [Chosun раскрыло ответ Сеула на просьбу Киева о ракетах](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/24/08/2026/6a8c548c068426504a992fdc) - Подтверждено по источнику rbc.ru
- [КНДР помогла Путину убить больше гражданских украинцев, - Южная Корея в ООН](https://www.unian.net/world/sotrudnichestvo-rossii-i-kndr-zatyagivaet-voynu-v-ukraine-yuzhnaya-koreya-v-oon-13487466.html) - Подтверждено по источнику unian.net

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What caused the dispute between Ukraine and South Korea?
**A:** The dispute was caused by the public announcement regarding the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul.