People Power Party Lawmaker Yoo Yong-won: "Two North Korean POWs Arrived in the Republic of Korea 3–4 Days Ago"

[Financial News] People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Yong-won said on the 24th, "The two North Korean prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces arrived safely in the Republic of Korea several days ago, according to what I understand."
At a press conference at the National Assembly that day, Yoo said, "We had learned in advance that they had entered the country, but we refrained from disclosing the related facts while strictly maintaining confidentiality, giving top priority to the personal safety of those involved, diplomatic relations and the national interest."
However, Yoo expressed regret over "the fact that a serious matter came to light first through President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rather than through an official announcement by our government."
Yoo said, "As a sovereign state, and as the entity responsible under our Constitution for embracing and protecting these people, who are citizens of the Republic of Korea, our government should have taken a more proactive and assertive approach."
After the press conference, Yoo told reporters that, when asked whether Ukraine had attached conditions such as weapons or humanitarian aid to the prisoners' repatriation, he replied, "As far as I understand, there were no conditions."
Regarding the circumstances of the repatriation negotiations between the Republic of Korea and Ukraine, he said, "I understand that the two countries reached an agreement in principle on the repatriation around last June." He added that he understood the repatriation had ultimately been reaffirmed through a meeting between the foreign ministers of the Republic of Korea and Ukraine.
[email protected] Kim Gyu-sung Reporter