Seoul summons Ukraine envoy over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer

SEOUL — South Korea escalated diplomatic tensions with Ukraine on Monday by summoning its acting ambassador to the country to register an official complaint over the handling of sensitive military information.

The South Korean foreign ministry took issue with Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war, viewing the public announcement as a breach of confidentiality regarding a delicate matter with regional security implications.

During the meeting, Seoul pressed Kyiv for a formal explanation of why the information was made public and demanded an apology for what it characterized as an inappropriate disclosure. The incident underscores the complexities surrounding North Korean military involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the diplomatic sensitivities involved in handling such matters.

The summons reflects Seoul's concern about operational security and the potential consequences of publicizing information related to North Korean forces captured during the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. South Korea has maintained a cautious stance on North Korean military participation in the war, and the unilateral disclosure by Ukraine appears to have caught Seoul off-guard.

The incident comes as the international community continues to monitor North Korea's military engagement in support of Russian forces, with Seoul seeking to manage the diplomatic ramifications carefully.