Scandal with DPRK prisoners: South Korea threatens “additional measures” if Ukraine refuses to apologize
Фото: reuters
South Korean President Lee Jae-myeon has threatened to take “additional measures” against Ukraine if Kyiv does not acknowledge the existence of a confidentiality agreement regarding the transfer of 2 North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul and apologize. The dispute between Kyiv and Seoul arose after Ukraine publicly announced the transfer of the prisoners.
This is reported by Reuters .
“If the refusal to acknowledge the facts and make a public apology continues, we will take additional measures,” Lee Jae-myung said.
The diplomatic dispute has been ongoing since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the UN General Assembly in September that Ukraine had handed over to South Korea 2 North Korean prisoners of war captured during hostilities on the side of Russia.
Seoul then accused Kyiv of violating a confidentiality agreement signed to protect prisoners of war. Ukrainian officials denied the existence of such an agreement.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said that Ukraine seeks to resolve the dispute and establish relations with South Korea.
“I wouldn’t like to call this an incident. Let’s say it’s a diplomatic misunderstanding,” Sibiga commented.
According to South Korean journalists, the country’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Sibiga are in direct contact and are discussing Seoul’s reaction and possible steps by Kyiv, taking into account the military circumstances in Ukraine.
The article notes that the dispute arose at a sensitive time for the Lee administration, when South Korea is trying to reduce tensions with North Korea.
Cho Han-bum, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, suggested that the “additional measures” announced by President Lee may relate to the support that South Korea provides to Ukraine, including humanitarian, financial, and reconstruction assistance.
According to him, South Korea also relies on Ukraine to obtain information related to North Korea’s military activities.
Earlier, South Korean President Lee Jae-myeon said that Ukraine had violated an agreement with Seoul not to disclose information about the transfer of two prisoners of war from the DPRK. He expressed regret that this had become public knowledge.
We also recall that South Korea is demanding an official explanation and apology from Ukraine for disclosing information about the transfer of two North Korean military prisoners to Seoul. The country’s presidential office said that the situation has damaged trust between the two governments.
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