Ukraine on Monday declared the diplomatic row with South Korea over two North Korean prisoners of war to be over — without offering the apology Seoul had demanded. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told media the dispute "stemmed from different interpretations of the confidentiality requirements" and that Kyiv had "fulfilled all its obligations," a stance that drew a swift, frosty response from Seoul, which recalled its ambassador to Kyiv last week in an unusually sharp protest.

The remarks are the latest twist in a rift that opened three weeks ago, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his UN General Assembly address to announce that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul called the disclosure a breach of a confidentiality agreement and demanded a formal apology; Kyiv denied any such deal existed.

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How the dispute started

On Sept. 23, Zelenskyy told the United Nations General Assembly that two North Korean POWs — soldiers captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region — had been transferred to South Korea. The announcement blindsided Seoul. The next day, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung publicly accused Kyiv of violating a confidentiality agreement, calling the transfer an "extremely sensitive" matter involving diplomacy and national security.

Seoul's account, reported by the Korea Times, is that Kyiv itself had requested secrecy — fearing domestic criticism for transferring the soldiers rather than trading them for Ukrainian captives held by Russia — and that Seoul agreed, partly to protect the soldiers' families, who remain in North Korea. A senior South Korean official added that Ukraine had even notified Seoul through diplomatic channels that Zelenskyy intended to mention the transfer in his UN speech, despite the earlier understanding.

Kyiv's counter, relayed by a source in the presidential office, was blunt: there was no confidentiality agreement. Presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said Ukraine had made no commitment to keep the transfer secret, and the Foreign Ministry framed the move as a gesture of goodwill toward Seoul.

Seoul's protest: a recall that broke a 18-year precedent

The standoff escalated into one of the sharpest diplomatic protests in recent South Korean history. After Kyiv's apology message — which Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told parliament "fell short of the level we had in mind" — Seoul recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, who arrived back in Seoul on Saturday. It was the first time South Korea had recalled an ambassador in protest since 2008, when it temporarily summoned its envoy to Japan home over school guidelines on the Dokdo islets.

President Lee Jae Myung had demanded an official apology and warned of unspecified further measures. Seoul said it holds documents proving the confidentiality understanding — a claim Kyiv has not acknowledged.

Kyiv's position: "misunderstanding," not a breach

Sybiha's comments on Monday hardened Kyiv's line. By describing the row as a product of "different interpretations" and insisting Ukraine met all of its obligations, the foreign minister effectively closed the door on the apology Seoul has been demanding. He added that he was confident relations would "continue to develop normally."

That confidence is unlikely to be shared in Seoul. The recall was a deliberate signal that South Korea considers the episode a breach of trust, not a misunderstanding — and a ministerial declaration that the matter is closed, without the apology Seoul demanded, risks leaving relations in a strained holding pattern. As with other recent Ukrainian diplomatic maneuvers (including Kyiv's fraught relationship with Washington), the episode shows how the war's global ripples keep pulling far-flung capitals into its orbit.

What happens next

For now, the ambassador's seat in Kyiv stands empty and the dispute stands "resolved" only in Ukraine's telling. Seoul has said consultations will continue, but until the apology question is settled, the normal machinery of bilateral ties — military assistance talks, reconstruction cooperation, high-level visits — is likely to move slowly. The two North Korean soldiers, whose mid-September arrival in South Korea set the whole affair in motion, have receded from the headlines; it is the politics of their transfer that will linger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the two North Korean POWs at the center of the dispute?

Two North Korean soldiers captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia in the Kursk region. Ukraine transferred them to South Korea in mid-September 2026.

Why is South Korea angry about the disclosure?

Seoul says Kyiv agreed to keep the transfer confidential — partly to protect the soldiers' families still in North Korea — and that Zelenskyy's public announcement at the UN breached that agreement. Kyiv denies any such agreement existed.

Why did South Korea recall its ambassador?

As a protest: Seoul recalled Ambassador Park Ki-chang on Oct. 8 after Kyiv's apology message was judged insufficient. It was the first South Korean ambassadorial recall in protest since 2008.

What did Ukraine's foreign minister say on Oct. 12?

Andrii Sybiha told media the dispute stemmed from "different interpretations of the confidentiality requirements," that Ukraine "fulfilled all its obligations," and that the matter is resolved — signalling no apology is coming.

Where can I read the original reporting?

The original reporting comes from the Korea JoongAng Daily and the Korea Times.