S. Korea, Ukraine's FMs discuss 'proper message' on NK POW transfer dispute: senior official

South Korean and Ukrainian foreign ministers have been deliberating on the appropriate way for Kyiv to react to Seoul's request for an apology regarding the disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) being transferred to Seoul, according to a senior government official on Friday. The South Korean government had demanded an official explanation and an apology from Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent disclosure of the transfer, as well as a statement from his office denying the existence of an agreement to keep the matter confidential.

One crucial point, according to the foreign ministry official well-versed in the issue, is that there was an agreement from the beginning to maintain the matter's confidentiality to safeguard the soldiers and their families, who are still in North Korea. The foreign minister emphasized that there is no question about this matter.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, have been maintaining close communication regarding potential responses from Ukraine, encompassing the tone, content, and manner of the message, as well as the announcement method. The official disclosed.