[COVER STORY] Ukraine's apology over NK POWs falls short of Korea's expectation: foreign minister

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that Ukraine apologized for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, but Seoul found the message insufficient. South Korea is considering further diplomatic measures, including recalling its ambassador to Ukraine. The dispute centers on Seoul’s assertion that the transfer was covered by a confidentiality agreement intended to protect the soldiers and their families.

Cho Hyun said South Korea has documents or meeting records showing that Seoul and Kyiv agreed to keep the transfer confidential.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer during a United Nations speech on Sept. 23.

Cho denied that South Korea promised Ukraine weapons or other support in exchange for accepting the soldiers.

Cho said he raised the issue with his Ukrainian counterpart at Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meetings in March.

Published Oct 6, 2026 3:56 pm KST

Updated Oct 6, 2026 5:48 pm KST

Seoul considers recalling ambassador to Kyiv

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun answers lawmakers' questions during a parliamentary audit into the ministry at the National Assembly, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that Ukraine sent an apology over its disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea but the message fell short of Seoul’s expectations.

He said the government is considering further diplomatic actions.

Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry amid a dispute over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer, which Seoul said the two sides had agreed to keep confidential.

“I have been exchanging messages with the Ukrainian foreign minister, who is very troubled by the situation, and I received a message that included words of apology,” Cho told lawmakers.

“But it was somewhat different from the level we had expected, so we intend to take firm measures,” he said.

Asked whether Seoul could recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, Cho said the government was considering that option.

When questioned about the reasons for Zelenskyy’s disclosure, Cho said that in his personal opinion, it seemed the Ukrainian president wanted to show U.N. members that Ukraine took the action to demonstrate its status as a free and democratic country.

The dispute erupted after Zelenskyy publicly revealed in a United Nations speech on Sept. 23 that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul maintains that the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential, citing concerns over the safety of the soldiers and their families in North Korea.

Cho said Ukraine had initially requested confidentiality and that Seoul possesses documents or meeting records showing that such an agreement existed.

He denied that Seoul had promised weapons or other support to Kyiv in return for the transfer.

“Not at all,” Cho said when asked whether any such promise had been made. He said he had raised the issue with his Ukrainian counterpart at Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meetings in March, urging Kyiv to allow the soldiers to come to South Korea in accordance with international law and the Geneva Conventions.

韩国外长赵显铉周二表示，乌克兰就泄露两名朝鲜战俘移交韩国一事道歉，但首尔方面认为这一道歉不足以弥补损失。韩国正在考虑采取进一步外交措施，包括召回驻乌克兰大使。此次争端的核心在于，首尔方面坚称此次移交受保密协议约束，旨在保护士兵及其家属的安全。

赵贤表示，韩国方面有文件或会议记录显示，首尔和基辅曾同意对此次转账保密。

乌克兰总统泽连斯基在9月23日于联合国发表讲话时透露了这一转移。

赵否认韩国曾承诺向乌克兰提供武器或其他支持以换取乌克兰接收士兵。

赵表示，他曾在3月份的七国集团外长会议上向乌克兰外长提出了这个问题。

发布于2026年10月6日下午3:56（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月6日下午5:48（韩国标准时间）

首尔考虑召回驻基辅大使

周二，韩国外交部长赵显在首尔国会出席外交部听证会并回答议员提问。（韩联社）

韩国外交部长赵显周二表示，乌克兰就其向韩国泄露两名朝鲜战俘的消息表示道歉，但这一道歉并未达到首尔的预期。

他说，政府正在考虑采取进一步的外交行动。

赵显龙是在国会就外交部进行审计时发表上述言论的。此前，乌克兰总统泽连斯基披露了这笔转移，引发了争议。首尔方面表示，双方已同意对此保密。

“我一直在与乌克兰外交部长互通信息，他对目前的局势感到非常不安，我收到了一条包含道歉信息的短信，”赵告诉议员们。

“但这与我们预期的水平有所不同，因此我们打算采取坚决措施，”他说。

当被问及首尔是否会召回其驻乌克兰大使朴熙昌时，赵表示政府正在考虑这一选项。

当被问及泽连斯基披露此事的理由时，赵表示，在他个人看来，乌克兰总统似乎想向联合国成员国表明，乌克兰采取这一行动是为了证明其作为一个自由民主国家的地位。

9月23日，泽连斯基在联合国大会上公开透露，两名在乌克兰为俄罗斯作战时被俘的朝鲜士兵已被移交给韩国，此举引发了这场争端。首尔方面坚称，双方已同意对此事保密，理由是担心这些士兵及其家人在朝鲜的安全。

Cho表示，乌克兰最初要求保密，而首尔方面掌握的文件或会议记录表明确实存在这样的协议。

他否认首尔曾承诺向基辅提供武器或其他支持以换取这笔转让。

当被问及是否曾做出过此类承诺时，赵显龙表示“完全没有”。他表示，他曾在3月份的七国集团外长会议上向乌克兰外长提出过这个问题，敦促基辅方面允许这些士兵根据国际法和日内瓦公约前往韩国。