South Korea Threatens New Measures Against Ukraine Over North Korean POW Dispute

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Archive: South Korean flag over the DMZ at Panmunjom, 2025. This photo does not show a missile launch, prisoners, or the reported negotiations.
Archive: South Korean flag over the DMZ at Panmunjom, 2025. This photo does not show a missile launch, prisoners, or the reported negotiations. Cpl. Joseph Liggio / U.S. Army / Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Source. Proportional display; no additional crop.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified measures against Ukraine on October 2 over a disputed confidentiality agreement concerning two North Korean prisoners of war. Kyiv denied such an agreement existed.

Lee said Friday, October 2, that Seoul would take “additional measures” if Ukraine continued to reject what South Korea says was a confidentiality agreement covering the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. He also demanded a public apology. Reuters and Yonhap reported the statement, which Lee made on X.

Ukraine transferred two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia to South Korea. Seoul says the transfer was meant to remain confidential; Ukrainian officials say no such agreement existed. Reuters reported that Ukraine’s foreign minister described the dispute as a diplomatic misunderstanding and expressed interest in repairing ties.

The alleged confidentiality agreement remained disputed

The dispute has moved beyond South Korea’s previous demand for an apology: Lee has now publicly threatened further action. He did not identify the measures or give a deadline, and no specific policy change has been announced.

It is not known what measures Seoul might take, or whether they would affect its humanitarian, financial or reconstruction support for Ukraine. The details of the alleged confidentiality agreement have not been made public, and its existence remains disputed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer at the United Nations General Assembly last month. The prisoners had been captured in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025, Reuters reported. South Korea has provided assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion and sought information from Kyiv about North Korea’s military activity.

SOURCES

Yonhap News Agency — October 2, 2026, 11:18 KST (02:18 UTC): https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261002002951315?section=national/diplomacy

Reuters — October 2, 2026, 03:00 UTC: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-lee-threatens-action-against-ukraine-over-transfer-north-korean-2026-10-02/

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