North Korean POWs

Diplomatic tensions have emerged between South Korea and Ukraine over the handling of North Korean prisoners of war captured while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The dispute centres on the transfer of these POWs, an issue sensitive for Seoul given its interest in North Korean soldiers and potential future defections. The rift threatens cooperation between the two countries at a time when the war continues to draw in foreign forces.

Relations between South Korea and Ukraine have deteriorated over the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war captured while fighting alongside Russian forces. South Korea's presidential office criticised Ukraine for refusing to guarantee nondisclosure regarding the POWs, a dispute that has opened a rare public rift between the two governments.

South Korea has formally demanded an apology from Ukraine after Kyiv disclosed the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war, according to Reuters. The disclosure reportedly angered Seoul, which has been sensitive about how captives from North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia are handled, and the episode has strained relations between the two governments at a delicate moment in the war.

South Korea's presidential office expressed strong regret on Sunday over Ukraine's denial of an agreement with Seoul not to disclose the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported. The dispute centres on whether both sides had agreed to keep the transfer of the POWs confidential, with Kyiv disputing Seoul's account of the arrangement.

South Korea has formally demanded an apology from Ukraine after Kyiv disclosed information about North Korean prisoners of war captured while fighting alongside Russian forces. The disclosure reportedly angered Seoul, which had sought to handle the matter sensitively given its own stance on North Korean troops in the war. Details of what exactly was revealed remain limited, and Ukraine has not publicly responded to the demand.