Presidential office reviewing various options on Ukraine, including recall of ambassador to Ukraine

[Financial News] As President Lee Jae Myung has demanded a clear explanation and apology from Ukraine over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure that North Korean prisoners of war had been handed over to South Korea, the presidential office said on the 6th that it was reviewing various additional responses, including recalling South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine.
A presidential office official told reporters that day, “From the early stages of the situation, our government has maintained that, because North Korean prisoners of war are citizens of the Republic of Korea under the Constitution, we would immediately accept them if they wished to come to South Korea. We have also maintained that forced repatriation against their will is absolutely out of the question.”
The official added, “This position was also conveyed to the Ukrainian side, and we have held related consultations.”
The official said, “Despite the confidential agreement, the issue of repatriating the North Korean prisoners of war was made public, and the agreement itself was denied, among other things. In response, President Lee Jae Myung took measures including summoning the Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, and is demanding a clear explanation and apology.”
The official added, “Our position on this issue has not changed. While waiting for Ukraine’s response and taking all relevant circumstances into comprehensive consideration, we are seriously reviewing various options, including recalling South Korea’s ambassador to Ukraine.”
Earlier, on the 2nd, President Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter) about the disclosure of the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war: “I express serious regret toward Ukraine, which, instead of acknowledging the (confidential) agreement and apologizing as I asked, talks of imminent military clashes between North and South Korea and seeks to bring about a war on the Korean Peninsula.”
He stressed, “This concerns the dignity of the people and state of the Republic of Korea and cannot be overlooked,” adding, “If they continue to refuse to acknowledge the facts and make a public apology, we will take further measures.” President Lee also criticized Ukraine, saying, “Regarding the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners, the Ukrainian side requested confidentiality, and we agreed to keep it confidential, but they unilaterally made it public. When the President of the Republic of Korea expressed regret as politely as possible, they denied that there had been an agreement and made the head of state of another country out to be a liar.”
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun, Seong Seok-woo Reporter