▲ South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun holds talks with visiting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annex in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of June 30.
South Korea and Ukraine have agreed to seek a solution regarding North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) held in Ukraine by respecting the free will of the individuals involved, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced.
The ministry stated that Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, at the ministry building in Seoul on the afternoon of June 30 to discuss key bilateral issues and regional situations.
The two ministers reaffirmed their consensus on handling the repatriation of two North Korean soldiers, who were captured by Ukrainian forces after being deployed to the Kursk region, in a manner consistent with international law and humanitarian principles.
In March, the two ministers also agreed to continue cooperation to resolve the issue of North Korean POWs in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in France.
In a statement posted on its website today, the Ukrainian side said, "We discussed the issue of North Korean prisoners in detail, and we know how to proceed while complying with international humanitarian law."
The North Korean POWs have expressed a desire to come to South Korea.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Park Il explained during a regular briefing today that "the government will continue to make diplomatic efforts to advance and resolve the issue of North Korean POWs."
The South Korean government maintains the position that it will accept the North Korean POWs, as they are considered South Korean citizens under the Constitution and have expressed their intent to defect.
While the Ukrainian government also appears to be leaning toward not forcibly repatriating the North Korean POWs against their will, the process seems to be moving slowly as it must also consider the handling of prisoners from other countries.
According to the results of the meeting, a difference in tone was detected regarding military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
While the South Korean Foreign Ministry only stated that "the two ministers exchanged in-depth views on major regional situations, including the war in Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry disclosed that they "discussed common challenges arising from deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang."
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Minister Sybiha emphasized that "Russia's acts of aggression have ripple effects across the globe," noting that this includes North Korea's involvement in the war and the compensation provided by Russia.
The meeting also covered issues such as the South Korean government's support for Ukraine and cooperation on reconstruction.
Minister Cho said, "Our government is paying close attention to diplomatic efforts to end the war. We hope that negotiations will lead to meaningful progress in the near future."
In addition, he explained that the South Korean government is continuing its humanitarian aid for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction.
Minister Sybiha expressed his gratitude.
Meeting with reporters shortly after the talks, Minister Sybiha said he held meetings with various companies regarding railways, infrastructure, and energy yesterday, emphasizing that South Korea possesses the necessary experience and technology. He added, "This reconstruction project will be one of the largest in the century. We are interested in the participation of South Korean companies."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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