Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung has issued a stern warning that South Korea may take "additional measures" if Ukraine continues to refuse a formal apology for denying an agreement to keep the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) confidential.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the diplomatic tension arose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unexpectedly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean POWs to South Korea, which Seoul claims breached a bilateral secrecy agreement. Ukraine, however, has denied that such an agreement existed.

President Lee stated that despite Ukraine's previous demands for confidentiality, it unilaterally revealed the transfer, subsequently accusing South Korea's head of state of lying by denying the nondisclosure agreement existed. He emphasized that Ukraine's actions could potentially escalate tensions by mentioning a possible inter-Korean military conflict, something Lee described as an attempt to provoke "war on the Korean Peninsula."

He underscored the gravity of the situation, citing its impact on the dignity of the South Korean people and the nation, insisting that he could not remain silent.

The warning followed a social media post by Kyrylo Budanov, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, who noted increasing tensions and warned of potential uncontrollable consequences from a trigger event.

South Korean sources indicated that the additional measures Lee mentioned might include recalling Ambassador Park Ki-chang from Ukraine as a form of protest. Lee's special adviser for peace diplomacy, Rep. Song Young-gil, mentioned on a radio program that recalling the ambassador could be the next step if Ukraine does not respond after a complaint was lodged with the Ukrainian envoy in Seoul.