Diplomatic crisis between Ukraine and South Korea after Zelensky's UN speech

The background to the upset feelings is that Zelenskyj, when he gave a speech in the UN General Assembly last week, revealed that Ukraine had handed over two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. When the South Koreans heard that, they went into overdrive.

The information is indeed correct, the South Korean leadership confirmed. But Ukraine and South Korea had an agreement to keep the North Koreans' movement secret, it is claimed.

For South Korea, it is important for several reasons. One is the risk that the North Korean soldiers' families will be punished when the North Korean regime learns that they have been received in South Korea. In addition, South Korea sees a risk that the North Korean regime will become angry and endanger the country's security when they learn of the handover.

Dictatorship North Korea sees South Korea as its enemy and regularly provokes its neighbor. Just days before Zelensky's speech at the UN, North Korea tested two ballistic missiles off South Korea's east coast.

In addition, South Korea claims, Ukraine agreed that it was best to keep the transfer of the North Korean soldiers secret because it wanted to avoid criticism at home for missing a chance to bring back Ukrainian prisoners of war in exchange for the North Koreans.

But Ukraine denies it. No confidentiality agreement has ever existed, it is claimed.

Words stand against words. But it is clear that Ukraine has fallen out with a country that has stood by its side ever since the Russian invasion. At the same time, Russia has received increasing support from North Korea. The country has sent weapons to the Russian military apparatus and around 10,000-15,000 North Korean soldiers. And North Korea is preparing to send another 10,000 soldiers, Zelenskyj said in a video on X on Tuesday.

Party members of President Lee want South Korea to cut off all aid to Ukraine unless the country apologizes.

North Korean participation in the war has prompted Zelensky to repeatedly ask for more help from South Korea. So far, the country has contributed medicines and equipment. But not lethal weapons. It is against the country's laws to contribute weapons to countries at war.

There may be ways around it, however, and Zelenskyy has specifically appealed for air defenses from South Korea, which is a major arms producer and exporter. It is in South Korea's interest that the war does not expand and strengthen totalitarian states such as Russia and North Korea, Zelensky has claimed.

Now the chances of his request being heeded look slimmer than ever. On the contrary, there are party members of President Lee who want South Korea to cut off all aid to Ukraine unless the country apologizes. Trust is seriously damaged, President Lee Jae-Myung has said.

For him, the revelation comes untimely. He has tried to thaw relations with North Korea in the hope of diplomatic talks on its nuclear arsenal.