Transfer of North Korean prisoners fuels Ukraine–South Korea dispute

In their own words

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Other voices

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Timeline

1. 2025-01

   Ukrainian forces captured the two soldiers in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025.

   Sources: Yonhap News Agency

   Supporting statements

   Zelenskyy disclosed that Kyiv had transferred the two North Korean soldiers, who had been captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region.

2. 2026-09

   The National Intelligence Service said the prisoners entered South Korea in mid-September without major health issues.

   Sources: The Hankyoreh

   Supporting statements

   Lee Jong-seok said the prisoners entered South Korea in mid-September without major health issues.

3. 2026-09-23

   Zelenskyy addressed the UN General Assembly on Sept. 23 and said Ukraine had sent the prisoners to South Korea.

   Sources: The Kyiv Independent · Yonhap News Agency

   Supporting statements

   Zelensky addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23 and called for continued support for Ukraine, stressed negotiations, and warned that Ukrainians would continue to fight back against Russia.

   Zelensky said two North Korean prisoners of war had recently been sent to South Korea.

4. 2026-09-24

   Lee posted on X on Thursday, saying Ukraine had breached an agreement and that the disclosure was regrettable.

   Sources: Yonhap News Agency

   Supporting statements

   “It was appropriate in every aspect not to disclose, considering many problems it may cause when disclosed, and (we) had agreed to do so”

   “(Ukraine) disclosed the transfer in breach of a non-disclosure agreement”

   “I don't know the reasons (for the disclosure), but I regret it.”

5. 2026-09-24

   Ukraine's presidential office responded on Sept. 24 that the transfer involved direct talks with South Korea and that sending the prisoners secretly would have been strange.

   Sources: Yonhap News Agency

   Supporting statements

   The Ukrainian presidential office described the matter as highly sensitive and as involving direct discussions with South Korea.

   The office said it would have been strange for Ukraine to send prisoners captured by its forces somewhere in secret.

   As quoted in Korean, with a machine translation

   “우리 군인들이 포로로 잡은 이들을 어디론가 그저 비밀리에 보내는 것은 이상한 일이었을 것”

   Machine translation: “It would have been strange if our soldiers had simply secretly sent those they captured as prisoners somewhere.”

6. 2026-09-25

   Torop and Lytvyn exchanged public statements on September 25, disputing whether an agreement existed; Lytvyn also objected to concealing the prisoners' destinations.

   Sources: Yonhap News Agency (via Ukrainska Pravda and Interfax) · Yonhap News Agency

   Supporting statements

   Torop said Ukraine and South Korea had a confidential agreement.

   Lytvyn denied that there had been a confidential agreement.

   Lytvyn said it would also be wrong to conceal where particular prisoners were being sent.

   Torop said that, as she understood it, an agreement existed and the prisoner issue was part of broader cooperation negotiations with South Korea.

   As quoted in Korean, with a machine translation

   “내가 파악한 바로는 그런 합의가 있었고, 포로 문제는 한국과의 더 큰 협력 협상 과정의 일부였다”

   Machine translation: “As I understand it, there was such an agreement, and the issue of prisoners was part of negotiations on broader cooperation with South Korea.”

   Lytvyn said there was no agreement to remain silent.

7. 2026-09-27

   South Korea's presidential office issued a statement on 27日 demanding an explanation and apology and criticizing Ukraine's denial of an agreement.

   Sources: Asahi Shimbun · Deutsche Welle

   Supporting statements

   The South Korean Presidential Office said Ukraine had requested secrecy during consultations, citing the matter's sensitivity and the possibility of being accused of giving up an opportunity to exchange its own prisoners.

   The South Korean Presidential Office said South Korea had agreed to keep the matter private, considering the safety of the prisoners and their families.

   Seong demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine.

   “It is in itself a very serious matter that … seriously undermines trust between the two governments and gravely damages friendly relations between the two countries.”

8. 2026-09-28

   South Korea's Foreign Ministry called in Ukraine's acting ambassador on Monday and sought an official clarification and apology.

   Sources: Yonhap News Agency · The Korea Herald

   Supporting statements

   South Korea's foreign ministry called in Ukraine's acting ambassador on September 28, 2026.

   Park demanded an official explanation and apology for the disclosure and denial and urged Ukraine to prevent a recurrence.

9. 2026-09-30

   The National Intelligence Service said Wednesday that Ukraine had requested strict confidentiality from the outset of handover discussions.

   Sources: The Hankyoreh

   Supporting statements

   Lee Jong-seok said the prisoners entered South Korea in mid-September without major health issues.

10. 2026-10-01

    Sybiha described the dispute as a diplomatic misunderstanding on October 1 and said Ukraine was working toward a resolution.

    Sources: Yonhap News Agency (via RBC Ukraine)

    Supporting statements

    Sybiha said he did not want to call the matter an incident and suggested calling it a diplomatic misunderstanding.

    As quoted in Korean, with a machine translation

    “이 사안을 '사건'이라 부르고 싶지 않다. '외교적 오해' 정도로 해두자”

    Machine translation: “I don't want to call this an 'incident.' Let's leave it at a 'diplomatic misunderstanding.'”

    Sybiha said he sincerely hoped the situation would be resolved soon and that they were working toward that.

    As quoted in Korean, with a machine translation

    “이 상황이 아주 가까운 시일 안에 해결되기를 진심으로 바라고 우리는 이를 위해 노력하고 있다”

    Machine translation: “I sincerely hope this situation will be resolved very soon, and we are working toward that.”

11. 2026-10-02

    Lee urged Ukraine to acknowledge the facts and apologize publicly on 2일, warning of additional measures if it continued to refuse.

    Sources: Yonhap News Agency

    Supporting statements

    Lee Jae-myung urged Ukraine on X to promptly acknowledge the facts and apologize.

    Lee warned that Ukraine would face additional measures if it continued to refuse to acknowledge the facts and apologize publicly.

12. 2026-10-02

    A South Korean official said Friday that the foreign ministers were discussing possible responses, including the wording and announcement of a possible message and whether it would include an apology.

    Sources: Yonhap News Agency · Yonhap News Agency

    Supporting statements

    “…have been in close communication on potential responses from Ukraine, including the tone and content of the message and the manner in which it would be announced”

    A senior government official said the sides had discussed how Ukraine would make an announcement, including whether it would apologize.

    A senior government official said Cho Hyun and Andrii Sybiha were communicating frequently by text to discuss South Korea's requested terms and what Ukraine could accept.

Coverage

Each outlet's headline, linked to its article. Non-English headlines are machine-translated. The groupings and notes on what each outlet emphasises are automated.

Our outlets in North Korea didn't cover it. No statements from the government or officials of North Korea, Russia or United States are in our sources.

More detail

Written by our automated pipeline from the statements in the coverage; each point lists the statements it rests on.