Foreign Ministry: "No Official Explanation Yet from Ukraine... Communication Channels Remain Open"

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday (September 29) that it has yet to receive a response from Ukraine after lodging an official protest over the breach of a confidentiality agreement regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs).

Park Doo-soon, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a regular press briefing on Tuesday, "We have not yet received an official explanation from Ukraine," adding, "We expect Ukraine to review the matter and convey its position to us through appropriate channels."

As claims continued to emerge from Ukraine denying the existence of a confidentiality agreement on the repatriation of the POWs, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo summoned Andrii Vieshkin, the chargé d'affaires at the Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul, on September 28 to deliver an official protest.

Spokesperson Park reaffirmed that an agreement on confidentiality had indeed been reached, saying, "My understanding is that both South Korea and Ukraine clearly agreed to handle this confidentially."

The Ukrainian side is expected to review whether to issue a statement after examining the South Korean government's official position conveyed through Chargé d'Affaires Vieshkin.

The South Korean government is reportedly expecting Ukraine to respond sincerely to the issues raised, taking into account its bilateral relations with Seoul.

Spokesperson Park said, "Communication channels with Ukraine are always open, and we have discussed—and will continue to discuss—various pending issues."

Park also drew a line against linking the controversy to any reconsideration of humanitarian aid for Ukraine, which is at war following Russia's invasion, saying, "This issue (the repatriation of North Korean POWs) is a humanitarian matter that is not tied to any other preconditions or matters."

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry stated that both of the two North Korean POWs wished to come to South Korea.

A Foreign Ministry official said, "The ministry directly confirmed the intentions of the two North Korean POWs multiple times through consular interviews, and throughout that process, they consistently expressed their desire to go to South Korea."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.