World28 Sep 2026
Seoul Summons Ukraine Envoy as Dispute Over Secret North Korean POW Transfer Escalates
South Korea summoned Ukraine's top diplomat in Seoul on Monday to demand an apology after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Kyiv transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul contends the transfer was subject to a strict non-disclosure pact meant to protect the prisoners' families in Pyongyang, while Ukrainian officials deny any confidentiality agreement ever existed. The diplomatic clash exposes the complex regional risks for South Korea as it balances domestic political friction, constitutional obligations to North Korean citizens, and pressure to provide military assistance to Ukraine.
By NeuraFeed