COVER STORY Ukraine's apology over NK POWs falls short of Korea's expectation: foreign minister
Summary
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that Ukraine apologized for disclosing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, but Seoul found the message insufficient. South Korea is considering further diplomatic measures, including recalling its ambassador to Ukraine. The dispute centers on Seoul’s assertion that the transfer was covered by a confidentiality agreement intended to protect the soldiers and their families.
Key Facts
- Cho Hyun said South Korea has documents or meeting records showing that Seoul and Kyiv agreed to keep the transfer confidential.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer during a United Nations speech on Sept. 23.
- Cho denied that South Korea promised Ukraine weapons or other support in exchange for accepting the soldiers.
- Cho said he raised the issue with his Ukrainian counterpart at Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meetings in March.
Seoul considers recalling ambassador to Kyiv
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun answers lawmakers' questions during a parliamentary audit into the ministry at the National Assembly, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that Ukraine sent an apology over its disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea but the message fell short of Seoul’s expectations.
He said the government is considering further diplomatic actions.
Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry amid a dispute over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer, which Seoul said the two sides had agreed to keep confidential.
“I have been exchanging messages with the Ukrainian foreign minister, who is very troubled by the situation, and I received a message that included words of apology,” Cho told lawmakers.
“But it was somewhat different from the level we had expected, so we intend to take firm measures,” he said.
Asked whether Seoul could recall its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, Cho said the government was considering that option.
When questioned about the reasons for Zelenskyy’s disclosure, Cho said that in his personal opinion, it seemed the Ukrainian president wanted to show U.N. members that Ukraine took the action to demonstrate its status as a free and democratic country.
The dispute erupted after Zelenskyy publicly revealed in a United Nations speech on Sept. 23 that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul maintains that the two sides had agreed to keep the move confidential, citing concerns over the safety of the soldiers and their families in North Korea.
Cho said Ukraine had initially requested confidentiality and that Seoul possesses documents or meeting records showing that such an agreement existed.
He denied that Seoul had promised weapons or other support to Kyiv in return for the transfer.
“Not at all,” Cho said when asked whether any such promise had been made. He said he had raised the issue with his Ukrainian counterpart at Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meetings in March, urging Kyiv to allow the soldiers to come to South Korea in accordance with international law and the Geneva Conventions.
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