"Why Tick Off the 9th Biggest in the World?" Unease Grows Over Ukraine's Move, Local Analysis Says

Ukraine's unilateral disclosure of the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea could lead to diplomatic friction and hinder future military cooperation, according to local Ukrainian media analysis.

In an article titled "How Ukraine Angered South Korea and Why It Matters" published on September 28 local time, the Ukrainian outlet The Kyiv Independent pointed out that the incident could go beyond a simple diplomatic conflict and negatively impact Ukraine's acquisition of weapons.

The conflict began on September 23 when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed during his UN General Assembly speech that two North Korean soldiers captured alive by Ukrainian forces had been sent to South Korea.

The South Korean government stated that the two nations had agreed not to disclose the transfer, considering the safety of the prisoners and their families remaining in North Korea as well as the diplomatic and security implications on the Korean Peninsula. However, a presidential aide to Zelenskyy refuted this, claiming that "no such agreement existed."

Eventually, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires ad interim of the Ukrainian Embassy in South Korea on September 28 to lodge a protest and demand an official explanation and apology from the Ukrainian government.

The reason The Kyiv Independent focused on this conflict is because South Korea possesses the weapons Ukraine desires.

According to research by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, South Korea accounted for 3% of major global arms exports from 2021 to 2025, ranking as the world's 9th largest arms exporter.

What Ukraine wants is air defense systems to block Russian ballistic missiles. Just last month, President Zelenskyy urged South Korea to provide air defense support, arguing that North Korean troops gaining combat experience in Russia and advancing missile technology also poses a threat to South Korea.

The South Korean military operates domestically developed Cheongung-II (KM-SAM II) systems capable of intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, in addition to U.S.-made Patriots.

K9 self-propelled howitzers, 155mm artillery shells, multiple rocket launchers, and tanks are also cited as military capabilities needed by Ukraine, which has entered a protracted war.

The South Korean government has thus far drawn a line against directly supplying lethal weapons, limiting its support to humanitarian aid and non-lethal military supplies.

The Kyiv Independent evaluated that trust between governments is all the more critical for sensitive cooperation, describing this diplomatic clash as a "bad sign" for future military support.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.