South Korea's MFA summons Ukrainian ambassador over statements regarding North Korean POWs

The South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine's Acting Ambassador Andriy Vieshkin after Kyiv disclosed details about transferring two North Korean prisoners of war. Park Yoon-joo, South Korea's First Deputy Foreign Minister, conveyed Seoul's strong position on the matter to Vieshkin, according to Yonhap news agency. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had handed over two North Korean soldiers, captured the previous year, to South Korea.

Seoul maintained that the transfer was confidential to ensure the safety of the prisoners and their families, emphasizing that Ukraine had agreed not to reveal the information. However, Ukrainian media reported that the Ukrainian side denied the existence of any confidentiality agreement with Seoul. This denial reportedly gravely damaged mutual trust and friendly relations between the two countries.

South Korea insisted that the denial was unacceptable, as it threatened their mutual relationship. Meanwhile, a South Korean presidential administration representative claimed that Zelenskyy had disclosed the transfer without prior explanation or consultation, despite Seoul's claim of a mutual agreement.