The dispute began on September 23 when President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the transfer during a speech at the UN General Assembly. President Lee Jae-myung previously accused Kyiv of plotting for the outbreak of war on the Korean Peninsula after Ukraine initially denied that a non-disclosure pact existed. South Korea's National Intelligence Service alleges that Ukraine sought secrecy to avoid domestic backlash over not using the men in a POW swap for Ukrainian troops, though the general possibility of the transfer had been discussed publicly for over a year.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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South Korea Threatens Envoy Recall Over Insufficient Ukraine Apology
Geopolitics15 days ago
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced that Seoul may pull its top diplomat from Kyiv after determining that a recent apology from Ukraine regarding the disclosure of prisoners was inadequate. South Korea is reviewing a firm diplomatic response to protest the reveal of two North Korean prisoners of war who were transferred to Seoul. Cho Hyun stated that Ukraine had originally requested the transfer remain confidential to protect the soldiers and their families in North Korea, but then unilaterally disclosed the event.
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