SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said today Seoul would take “further measures” if Ukraine refuses to publicly apologise over what he called its unilateral disclosure of North Korean POWs being sent to South Korea.

Seoul has taken a hard stance on Ukraine disclosing the transfer of two soldiers captured fighting for Russia, warning that their families could be targeted by Pyongyang.

The POWs were captured by Ukrainian forces early last year after being deployed alongside thousands of North Korean troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, in exchange for economic and military assistance to Pyongyang.

Hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed last week the transfer in remarks at the United Nations, South Korea’s Lee expressed his dismay, with Seoul claiming confidentiality was key to protecting the POWs’ relatives.

Seoul later demanded an official apology from Ukraine, saying that both sides had reached a “clear understanding” during consultations to keep the transfer confidential — citing concerns for the safety of the POWs’ families in North Korea.

“If Ukraine continues to refuse to acknowledge the facts and publicly apologise, we will take further measures,” said the South Korean President today, accusing Kyiv of making him out to be a “liar”.

“This is a matter concerning the dignity of the Republic of Korea and its people and cannot be overlooked,” Lee posted on X.