South Korea's foreign ministry has summoned Ukraine's acting ambassador, Andrii Vieshkin, to express strong regret over the disclosure of the transfer of captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The ministry stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement at the UN General Assembly, despite an agreement to keep the matter confidential, undermines trust between the two governments. Seoul demands an official explanation and apology from Kyiv.
According to South Korea's foreign ministry, a clear agreement existed between the two countries to keep the transfer confidential. However, the Ukrainian presidential office denied the existence of such an agreement, which Seoul described as a false statement. The ministry urged Kyiv to take steps to prevent a recurrence and stressed that the disclosure seriously undermines trust between the two governments.
First Vice-Minister Park Yoon-joo emphasized that the disclosure of a falsehood regarding the confidential agreement can cause problems for friendly ties between South Korea and Ukraine. The ministry expressed its regret and demanded that Kyiv take immediate action to rectify the situation. Vieshkin reportedly listened carefully to Seoul's position and promised to accurately report it to his government.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. According to Zelensky, the men were sent to South Korea after being captured while fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities were not immediately available for comment on the matter.
South Korea's presidential office on Sunday also demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine regarding the disclosure. The transfer of the captured North Korean soldiers comes at a time when South Korea has backed efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea. US President Donald Trump has also renewed his willingness to engage with Pyongyang.
South Korean media reported that Kyiv claimed there was an understanding of the plan to make the transfer public. However, Seoul maintained that a clear agreement existed to keep the matter confidential. The incident has strained relations between South Korea and Ukraine, with Seoul seeking a resolution to the matter.
The incident highlights the complexities of international diplomacy, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea's foreign ministry will likely continue to engage with Ukraine to resolve the issue and prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident may also impact efforts to revive dialogue between South Korea and North Korea.
Key points
- South Korea summons Ukraine's envoy to protest over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer.
- Ukraine's disclosure undermines trust between South Korea and Ukraine.
- Incident may impact efforts to revive dialogue between South Korea and North Korea.
