The presidential office in Seoul is seeking a formal apology for the revelation that two North Korean military prisoners were transferred to South Korea. Officials in Seoul stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed the transfer in a UN General Assembly speech without sufficient prior consultation, triggering unnecessary domestic controversy. The South Korean government is now contemplating further actions after Ukraine reportedly refused to adhere to a nondisclosure agreement regarding the captives.

The two soldiers were the first North Korean personnel captured alive since Pyongyang joined the conflict in 2024, having been seized by Ukraine while fighting for Russia. While South Korea argues the disclosure violated a confidentiality agreement necessitated by security and diplomatic concerns, Kyiv denies any such pact existed. A senior Blue House official stated that South Korea's support for Ukraine will continue despite the ongoing dispute.