In brief
South Korea has summoned Ukraine’s acting ambassador after President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that two North Korean soldiers fighting with Russia were transferred to Seoul. The swap was meant to stay quiet, but Zelensky’s UN address exposed it, irritating Korea. Seoul says the leak damaged trust and could endanger the soldiers’ families. Korea now demands an apology, and the spat may alter its neutral stance on war‑related weapons. Russia has warned Seoul of retaliation if it helps Ukraine arm itself.
South Korea just called the acting ambassador of Ukraine, demanding a formal apology after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that two North Korean soldiers fighting with Russia were moved to Seoul.
The prisoner transfer was planned to stay secret, but the transfer was revealed on the world stage at the UN General Assembly, sparking a diplomatic row between the countries.
South Korea said the disclosure hurt trust between the two nations and could endanger the soldiers’ families back in North Korea.
The two North Korean troops had asked to be relocated after being captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.
South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung called the move “disappointing” and “highly sensitive,” urging Ukraine to keep the swap a secret to avoid criticism that it had given up a bargaining chip for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The confrontation has now led South Korea to demand a formal apology from Ukraine and is reshaping its long‑standing neutral stance on providing weapons to nations in active conflict.
Meanwhile, Russia warned that it might retaliate if South Korea supplies Ukraine with any sort of arms.
