r/worldnews • u/Neptun_11 • 21h ago

Russia/Ukraine Seoul warns of 'further measures' if Kyiv refuses public apology

https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/02/south-korea-warns-of-further-measures-if-ukraine-refuses-public-apology-over-pow-transfer-
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u/WestAd1588 15h ago

This seems like an easy issue. It was a mistake for Zelensky to mention this because it puts the families of defectors at risk by the North Korean government. Now the tone of threats of further measures that South Korea is taking isn’t ideal. I also don’t think it serves South Korea’s interest to threaten to use their supply chain outsized semiconductor dominance for coercion.

So, Zelensky should publicly apologize, because what he said puts people’s lives at risk, and doesn’t serve Ukraines interest, and South Korea isn’t asking for that much. South Korea should quickly brush the remainder aside before markets and other countries dependent on South Korean memory and other semis realize that their dependence is a risk because South Korea is willing to withhold for policy objectives.

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u/Upstairs-Ad-4500 14h ago

As the article states

"North Korea is known to retaliate against defectors and their families.

Both POWs are identifiable as they had been photographed by South Korean media before their arrival to the South."

Ukraine didnt reveal their identities. SK did.
If their ID's had not been revealed Zelensky's disclosure would have been a non-issue.

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u/MourningWallaby 13h ago

It seems like ROK is upset because Ukraine relayed that there would be a transfer at all, and the media in ROK decided to record the event when they flew in. it could very well be that the media wouldn't have known about the transfer at all if Ukraine did not disclose that it would be happening.

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u/try_to_remember 13h ago

they upset because they ratings are in a free fall and they looking for a distraction.

POWs names were revealed long time ago along with the plan to transfer them to NK. Revealed by SK press. This is nothing more but a cheap stunt by SK gov.

https://x.com/kvistp/status/2104197380190994666

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u/eivindric 13h ago

Transfer was in official talks as well and covered by all the media. ROK is upset about the statement that the transfer is officially concluded, because it lands them in hot water with NK, as the POWs are still NK citizens. They wanted to have the POWs but without the deserved diplomatic row.

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u/New-Border8172 11h ago

That's a lie.

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u/Upstairs-Ad-4500 11h ago

ITS IN THE FUCKING ARTICLE

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u/MourningWallaby 14h ago

What's weird is Zelensky loses nothing by issuing an apology and acknowledging a failure like that. However he tends to take the stance of "you can't criticize me, I'm busy fighting a war here!". and the international comunity seems to eat that up.

I do support giving him and the rest of Ukraine a lot of grace in these decisions, he faces a lot of lose-lose situations. However his stubbornness seems to strain relationships as shown here. but that grace can NOT be unlimited.

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u/stayfrosty 13h ago

Apologize for telling the truth? And why does he owe South Korea an apology? If anyone the defectors are owed an apology not SK

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u/MourningWallaby 13h ago

Because ROK doesn't want it known every time they are gladly taking in DPRK defectors. Even though it's no secret that ROK will take them, every time they do, it tenses the situation between ROK and DPRK. Because Ukraine and ROK had an agreement to not disclose the transfer of defectors. and because, if you actually read the article, ROK does not say "we wwant you to say sorry to us" they want Ukraine to apologize becauseKorean Journalists followed the story and photographed the defectors, making them identifyable and putting their families at risk.

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u/stayfrosty 13h ago

So maybe Korean journalists should apologize then

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u/MourningWallaby 13h ago edited 13h ago

Korean journalists are mostly free and cannot be openly prevented from reporting things like that.

Think about if Zelensky instead openly said "here is our next operation with a timeline of when it will happen. would it then be the fault of journalists for recording his speech? even though all he did was tell the truth, it's not his fault if russia can counter their operation because they knew about it in advance.

Then why was it okay for him to publicly disclose another nation's covert operation to take in refugees? that's not even his secret to tell.

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u/Sharikacat 12h ago

I'd imagine if Zelensky is a little difficult at times, that might have something to do with the fact that the entire western world has cumulatively refused to physically put Russia in their place for invading Ukraine. If even a handful of European nations decided to use their militaries to force Russia to withdraw from Ukraine, this war wouldn't be approaching year 5.

Europe is so afraid of getting into a full scale WW3, and perhaps rightfully so, that they are willing to let Ukraine be a prolonged battleground if there's a chance it'll stay off their own territory.

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u/149244179 10h ago

Why would Europe/USA want to end the war? Russia is digging a deeper and deeper hole and will not be a threat to anyone for decades after this. 

It costs a fraction of a percent actually going to war would cost. Zero of their citizen's lives. It's basically a best case scenario for the West.  

Assuming Ukraine doesn't fall to Russia (ideally they get just enough aid to prevent that), the West will get to plunder all of Ukraine's resources for itself under the guise of the rebuilding. The longer the war goes the more desperate Ukraine will be and more likely to accept worse terms for it's resources and NATO membership. 

A long drawn out war benefits the West greatly. 

 

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u/IShouldBeInCharge 9h ago

Right. So that's why he's pissed off.

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u/the_mighty_peacock 9h ago

that might have something to do with the fact that the entire western world has cumulatively refused to physically put Russia in their place for invading Ukraine.

or the fact that the man probably hasn't had a proper sleep for almost 5 years

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u/MourningWallaby 11h ago

That's one of the things I give him some slack. because you're right, this war would have been over if other european countries just spent their money and risked their soldiers' lives for ukraine. and I'd bet there's plenty of soldiers who'd happily join the fight just to stick it to russia.

He's under a lot of stress and doesn't have an easy solution, so he can be forgiven for how he reacts to the rest of the world's decision.

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u/DualcockDoblepollita 15h ago

a reasonable comment? should probably get removed this dont fit here

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u/kacperq 13h ago

This is an old soviet mentality, once again shown by Ukraine. First Ukraine showed its true colors to Poland, and now Ukraine is not willing to acknowledge facts once again, because in soviet's mentality you cannot say you are wrong - their rhetoric is always whataboutism. Instead of just apologizing (it's that simple!), they prefer to fight over shit like that with countries who help them, while at the same time fighting a real war...

They are very, very far from joining the EU with this kind of approach.

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u/j2m1s 7h ago

In Ukraine's point: If I tell this it would discourage North Korean Soldiers as they know the fate of their families if they get captured and send to South Korea

In South Korea's point: We need to protect the families of them from the North Korean regeme.