South Korea demanded an explanation and apology from Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

Seoul said the transfer had been covered by a confidentiality agreement intended to protect the prisoners and their families.

Ukraine has disputed that an agreement existed to keep the transfer completely secret, creating a diplomatic dispute between the two countries. 

The two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 after being deployed to support Russian forces, Al-Jazeera has reported.

South Korea said it was considering additional measures and stressed that the prisoners were transferred on humanitarian grounds while respecting their wishes and international law.