South Korea's presidential office said on Sunday that Ukraine had repeatedly discussed the prisoners' transfer through various channels and had requested secrecy, arguing that public disclosure could trigger domestic criticism that Kyiv had given up an opportunity to exchange the soldiers for Ukrainian prisoners.
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said Seoul agreed to keep the transfer confidential given security, diplomatic and humanitarian concerns, including the safety of the prisoners and their families. He added that last week's disclosure was made without sufficient prior consultation and that Ukraine subsequently denied the existence of any confidentiality agreement.
The issue had seriously damaged trust between Seoul and Kyiv, he said, and could harm bilateral relations.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in a post on X that both countries had agreed to keep the transfer confidential. "I do not know what circumstances led the Ukrainian side to disclose the matter despite the confidentiality agreement, but it is deeply regrettable," he wrote. "The issue of bringing North Korean prisoners to South Korea is a highly sensitive one that could have a major impact on diplomacy, security and the situation on the Korean Peninsula."
Ukraine's embassy in Seoul did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Ukrainian presidential aide Dmytro Lytvyn defended the disclosure, saying Ukraine was "an open country" and it would have been strange to hand the soldiers over in secret. "From the entire story, which is long and detailed, we reported only the fact itself, that they were sent to the Republic of Korea," he said.
Ukraine captured the two North Koreans in Russia's Kursk region in January 2025, the first soldiers from the country captured alive since Pyongyang sent troops to help Russia in 2024. Zelenskyy said one soldier tried to kill himself when he was captured. "This is how they raise people in the North," he said, and criticised North Korea for using citizens like "currency" to aid Russia's war.
South Korea had previously declined to confirm the soldiers' arrival, citing concerns for their safety and that of family members still in North Korea. The two soldiers reportedly expressed a desire to go to South Korea rather than return to North Korea, where they could face reprisals for allowing themselves to be captured. Both governments now face an unprecedented resettlement process.