Cho Hyun: "Ukraine has pledged not to send two North Korean POWs to Russia"...People Power Party warns of "repatriation risk"

[Financial News] Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated on the 6th that two Korean People's Army soldiers held as prisoners of war in Ukraine will not be sent to Russia. Lawmakers from the People Power Party asked Cho during the full session of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee about government measures regarding what they described as a looming risk that the two POWs could be transferred to Russia. The party also argued that the South Korean government needs to provide protection for the two North Korean POWs.
Kim Gi-hyeon of the People Power Party said, "There have been more than 20 rounds of North Korea–Russia negotiations over prisoners of war, during which they asked that the two North Korean soldiers be sent to Russia," and he pressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its response. Kim added that his party colleague Yoo Yong-won had confirmed these facts while in Ukraine.
In response, Cho Hyun said, "In my meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, I received a direct assurance that they will not be repatriated. In my meeting with a senior representative as well, I was told that such a thing will not happen."
Cho went on to say, "If I go into further detail on this classified matter, it could endanger the safety of the two individuals," adding, "Before Representative Yoo Yong-won traveled to Ukraine, he called me, and I told him we would cooperate as much as possible." He appealed for restraint, saying he hoped there would be no more provocative language on the issue.

rainman@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Kyung-soo Reporter