Why does South Korea say the transfer of North Korean POWs should stay confidential?

Seoul says disclosure could create dangers for the soldiers, so it wants the transfer handled with caution. The government says the matter should be approached in line with the POWs’ wishes, international law and humanitarian principles.

What did South Korea say after Ukraine denied a secrecy agreement on the North Korean POW transfer?

A South Korean presidential official declined to respond to each comment from a source and refused to address Ukraine’s reported denial directly. The official said the government would keep its position consistent and consider the POWs’ wishes, domestic and international law, and humanitarian principles.

What triggered the latest South Korea-Ukraine dispute over the North Korean POWs?

The dispute began after Zelenskyy said at a United Nations address that Ukraine had sent the two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Lee Jae Myung said the disclosure violated a nondisclosure agreement and could cause problems.

S. Korea again highlights humanitarian handling of NK POWs

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Summary

South Korea on Friday again said North Korean POWs captured by Ukraine should be handled under international law and humanitarian principles. In Mexico City, a presidential official declined to comment on Ukraine’s reported denial of a nondisclosure deal, saying Seoul would respond consistently while considering the POWs’ wishes. The remarks came after Ukraine disclosed the transfer of the two soldiers to South Korea.

Key Facts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a United Nations address that Ukraine sent the two North Korean soldiers captured last year to South Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his office said Ukraine breached a nondisclosure agreement that was meant to keep the transfer secret for safety reasons.
A South Korean presidential official said Seoul would handle the matter consistently with the POWs’ wishes, domestic and international law, and humanitarian principles.
Ukrainian media outlets were reported to have quoted a Ukrainian presidential source denying that a confidentiality agreement with South Korea existed.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 26, 2026 7:51 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech at a dinner with Korean residents in Mexico, Sept. 24. Yonhap

MEXICO CITY — The presidential office has again stressed the need to apply international law and humanitarian principles in dealing with North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) after Ukraine disclosed the transfer of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine to South Korea.

The response from Cheong Wa Dae came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed during a United Nations address earlier this week that Ukraine sent the two North Korean soldiers captured last year during the war with Russia to South Korea.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his office have since said Ukraine breached a nondisclosure agreement aimed at keeping the transfer secret to safeguard the soldiers from dangers it could cause if their transfer were disclosed, citing international law and humanitarian principles.

Subsequently, Ukrainian media outlets were reported to have quoted a Ukrainian presidential source as denying the existence of a confidentiality agreement with South Korea.

In a press conference Friday in Mexico City, where Lee is on a state visit, a South Korean presidential official declined to comment on Ukraine's reported denial of the nondisclosure deal, saying it would be inappropriate to react to every comment by a source.

The official, instead, said, "It is our government's stance to respond to (the matter) with consistency in consideration of (the POWs') wishes, our and international law and humanitarian principles."

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