Seoul again demands apology from Kyiv over disclosure of North Korean prisoner transfer

South Korea's presidential office has renewed its demand for a formal apology from Ukraine after Kyiv disclosed the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea, warning it would take 'additional measures' if no apology is issued.

The two North Korean soldiers were reportedly captured by Ukrainian forces during the course of the war before being transferred to South Korea, a move that Seoul says was revealed by Kyiv without the coordination or consent it expected.

The dispute highlights sensitivities in the trilateral dynamics involving South Korea, Ukraine, and North Korea, particularly given North Korea's reported military support for Russia's war effort and South Korea's cautious, calibrated approach to the conflict.

Seoul's warning of 'additional measures' suggests the disagreement could affect its relationship with Kyiv if not resolved, even as South Korea continues to navigate its own complex position regarding the war and its implications for Korean Peninsula security.

Ukrainian officials have not been quoted in available reporting responding directly to Seoul's renewed demand, and it remains unclear whether an official apology will be issued to address South Korea's concerns.