Following Ukraine's unilateral disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, local Ukrainian media outlets have analyzed that the diplomatic friction with South Korea could hinder future military cooperation.

In an article published on the 28th (local time) titled "How Ukraine angered South Korea and why it matters," the Ukrainian outlet The Kyiv Independent highlighted that this situation could go beyond a simple diplomatic conflict and negatively impact Ukraine's acquisition of weapons.

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

The South Korean government stated that the two countries 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 for the Korean Peninsula. However, an aide to President Zelenskyy denied this, saying, "There was no such agreement."

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

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

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

What Ukraine wants is an air defense system to block Russian ballistic missiles. Just last month, President Zelenskyy requested air defense support from South Korea, noting that North Korean troops gaining combat experience in Russia and advancing their missile technology also poses a threat to South Korea.

The South Korean military operates not only US-made Patriots but also the domestically developed Cheongung-II, which can intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.

K9 self-propelled howitzers, 155-millimeter artillery shells, multiple rocket launchers, and tanks are also considered vital assets needed by Ukraine, which has entered a prolonged war.

While providing humanitarian aid and non-lethal military supplies to Ukraine, the South Korean government has maintained a firm stance against directly providing lethal weapons.

The Kyiv Independent noted that government-to-government trust is all the more crucial for sensitive cooperation, evaluating 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)