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South Korea has demanded an official apology from Ukraine after Kyiv denied the existence of an agreement between the two sides to maintain the secrecy of transferring two North Korean soldiers captured during the fighting alongside Russian forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the United Nations General Assembly that his country had transferred two North Korean soldiers to South Korea, stating that "their families being alive was not easy."
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung responded to Zelenskyy, questioning in a post on X, "I don't know why the Ukrainian side broke the agreement and disclosed it publicly," expressing his "disappointment."
For his part, Zelenskyy's aide Dmytro Lytvyn commented that Ukraine is an "open country," wondering why the soldiers were handed over secretly.
He added to journalists, "We only revealed the fact that they were sent to the Republic of Korea, although the story is long and detailed."
However, Song Ki-hong, Senior Secretary for Public Affairs at the South Korean Presidential Office, said in a statement that "the Ukrainian side's violation of the confidentiality agreement between the two countries and its unilateral disclosure of information is in itself a very serious matter."
He added that "the incorrect claim by the Ukrainian Presidential Office's press office that there was no confidentiality agreement seriously undermines the trust between the two governments and causes significant damage to the friendly relations between them."
He affirmed that the South Korean Presidential Office demands "a clear explanation and an official apology," adding that Seoul is considering "additional measures that may be necessary" in this regard, without disclosing their nature.
Earlier this year, Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting with units deployed by Pyongyang to support Russian forces in the war.
A South Korean deputy previously said that the soldiers expressed their desire to live a "normal life" in South Korea.
According to the South Korean Constitution, all Koreans, including North Korean residents, are considered South Korean citizens.
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