South Korean President’s Outrage Over Ukraine’s Actions

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed his anger on social media, accusing Ukraine’s government of portraying him as a “liar” and hinting at “additional measures” if they do not offer an apology to South Korea.

This situation arises from a tense incident tied to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly in late September. During that address, he spoke about North Korea’s involvement in the war against Ukraine and mentioned that Ukrainian forces had detained North Korean soldiers on behalf of Russia. He also stated that they had reached an agreement with South Korea to send these soldiers there. This declaration incited outrage in Seoul, which maintained that the transfer was supposed to be confidential, as Ukrainian officials had requested that kind of discretion from them. Furthermore, they argued that Zelensky had not consulted with Lee or any South Korean officials before breaching this confidentiality agreement.

Following this incident, South Korean media reported that Ukrainian officials refuted the existence of any confidentiality agreement, a point that Lee reiterated in his recent post. Last week, South Korea’s government summoned Ukraine’s chief diplomat to express their concerns, but there had not been a significant response from Ukraine at the time of reporting.

Lee’s message also seemed to be a reaction to comments made by Ukrainian Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov. He had suggested that North Korea’s involvement in the conflict might be aimed at gaining combat experience for potential future aggression towards South Korea. Notably, Budanov’s comments didn’t touch on the controversy regarding the North Korean POW transfers, which clearly ruffled South Korean feathers.

Budanov stated, “North Korea is arming itself by learning from our war.” He went on to indicate that escalating their armament appears to be in preparation for possible conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee pointed out that Budanov’s remarks followed South Korea’s request for an apology, probably interpreting them as veiled threats towards his country.

In his remarks, Lee reiterated, “Concerning the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war, the Ukrainian side demanded confidentiality and agreed to it, but then disclosed it unilaterally.” He added that when he expressed regret about the situation, the Ukrainian government claimed there was no agreement in place, thus making him appear dishonest.

He further elaborated, “When we sought acknowledgment of the agreement and demanded an apology, they chose to highlight the possibility of military conflict between North and South, instead of addressing the matter at hand — and we really regret that.”

Moreover, Lee warned, “If they continue to deny the facts and do not issue a public apology, we will take additional measures.” He emphasized that the issue touches upon the dignity of the South Korean people and nation, indicating that it’s not something they could just let slide.

Despite his warnings, Lee did not clarify what these “additional measures” might entail, and it’s unclear how the South Korean government might act given their alliance with Ukraine and the support they have provided over the duration of the conflict. Reports suggest that one possibility could be recalling South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang.

Later that day, South Korean news agency Yonhap indicated that officials from both countries were discussing how to address the disagreement, suggesting some movement towards resolution.

One official, who remained unnamed, insisted, “There was an agreement from the outset to keep the matter confidential to protect the soldiers and their families still in North Korea. That’s undeniable.”

These talks, involving Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, are reportedly focused on how Ukraine might respond publicly to the situation, particularly regarding the tone and content of any statements made. Sybiha has previously suggested that the whole incident is a mere “misunderstanding” and stressed the value of South Korea’s support.

Lee had already addressed these events over the weekend, explaining that his administration opted against revealing the transfer of the North Korean prisoners, even though some thought it could have helped politically at home — calling Zelensky’s address “deeply regrettable.”

At the UN, Zelensky stressed that the active role of North Korea in this conflict made it necessary for the international community to pay attention. He shared that Ukraine had recently sent two North Korean POWs to South Korea, noting the extreme difficulty of capturing such individuals alive.

Zelensky posed a poignant question, “Why should Koreans risk their lives fighting against Ukraine?” He accused North Korean leader Kim Jong-un of using his people as a bargaining chip in relations with Russia.

Back in January 2025, Zelensky revealed Ukraine had captured North Korean soldiers, showcasing video evidence of two men purportedly sent by Pyongyang to fight against Ukraine.

At the moment, the Ukrainian government has not confirmed the identities of those North Koreans who were transferred to South Korea.