Why South Korea and Ukraine Are Fighting Over Two Prisoners of War

If this episode were only about the two North Korean soldiers, their resettlement might have passed unnoticed. The diplomatic kerfuffle between Kyiv and Seoul is rooted in the different geopolitical narratives that each nation seeks to project, or in Seoul’s case, downplay.

For Ukraine, publicizing the presence and resettlement of North Korean prisoners of war provides a valuable opportunity to solicit support from South Korea, a major arms exporter and a vital partner to NATO. Since 2022, Kyiv has been urging Seoul to supply it with lethal weapons, including Patriot interceptors and 155mm artillery shells. In light of Pyongyang’s direct military support for Moscow, Ukraine has intensified pressure on South Korea to move beyond non-lethal military, humanitarian, and economic assistance.

For South Korea, Ukraine’s public disclosure of the resettlement of these soldiers undermines its diplomatic outreach to North Korea. In his address to the UN General Assembly, President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea reiterated his vision of inclusive, peaceful coexistence built on “respect for each other’s systems” and the restoration of cross-border trust with North Korea. Accepting North Korean soldiers while publicly promoting dialogue weakens Lee’s reassurances to Pyongyang that Seoul desires “stable, peaceful coexistence.”