South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has issued a warning to Ukraine, indicating that further measures may be taken unless Kyiv acknowledges a purported confidentiality agreement related to the transfer of two North Korean soldiers who were captured while fighting for Russia. The South Korean leader also called for an apology from Ukraine to defuse rising tensions.
The dispute arose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the transfer of the soldiers to South Korea. According to Seoul, this transfer was supposed to be governed by an agreement aimed at protecting the identities and circumstances of the soldiers, a claim Ukrainian officials have contested.
President Lee expressed concern over Ukrainian comments that he believes could escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula by suggesting the possibility of a military confrontation between North and South Korea. In response, South Korean and Ukrainian foreign ministry officials have engaged in discussions aimed at resolving the issue, focusing on the possibility of an apology and ensuring that the disagreement does not further strain bilateral relations.
South Korea has been a supporter of Ukraine, offering humanitarian and financial aid since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Seoul has also pledged additional non-lethal support to aid Ukraine in its ongoing conflict.