Foreign Ministry Summons Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires to Protest; Regrets “Breach of Confidential Agreement on Repatriating North Korean Soldiers”

[Financial News] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) conveyed its protest to Ukraine over the breach of a confidential agreement to repatriate two North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Park Yunju, MOFA’s First Vice Minister, summoned Andrii Beshkin, Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in South Korea, on the 28th and conveyed the South Korean government’s serious position regarding the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners of war.
Despite a clear bilateral agreement to keep the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners of war confidential, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unilaterally and unexpectedly disclosed at the United Nations General Assembly that the prisoners would be sent to South Korea, without providing sufficient prior explanation or holding specific consultations.
MOFA also expressed strong regret over the Ukrainian presidential office’s press office issuing a false statement denying that any confidential agreement had existed.
Park emphasized, "The Ukrainian side’s announcement of the false claim that there was no confidential agreement seriously undermines trust between the governments of the two countries and damages their friendly relations."
He also demanded an official explanation and apology from the Ukrainian government for the unilateral disclosure and false statement concerning the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners of war, and called for measures to prevent a recurrence.
Beshkin carefully listened to the South Korean government’s position and said he would accurately report it to his home government.




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