Seoul, October 2 (Daily Kiran) : South Korean President Lee Jae-myung issued a stern warning on Friday, stating that his country would take “additional measures” if Ukraine continues to refuse an official apology regarding the secret transfer of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs).
This warning comes in the wake of a diplomatic dispute following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s unexpected announcement last week that two North Korean POWs had been transferred to South Korea. According to the Yonhap News Agency, Seoul has accused Ukraine of violating a bilateral agreement that was supposed to keep the transfer confidential. However, Ukraine has denied the existence of such a confidentiality agreement.
President Lee emphasized that if Ukraine persists in denying the facts and fails to issue an official apology, South Korea would respond with further actions. He noted that Ukraine unilaterally disclosed the transfer despite having previously requested confidentiality from South Korea. This disclosure, according to Lee, misled the heads of state involved by claiming that no non-disclosure agreement existed.
When South Korea sought an apology from Ukraine for breaching the confidentiality agreement, Kyiv instead referenced concerns about potential military conflicts on the Korean Peninsula. Lee expressed that Ukraine’s attitude appears to provoke a war-like situation in the region, which is deeply troubling for South Korea.
“This matter is tied to the dignity of the South Korean people and the nation, and I cannot remain silent on it,” Lee asserted. His warning followed a social media post from Kyrylo Budanov, Zelensky’s chief of staff, which mentioned the increasing tensions and the potential for provocative incidents.
Sources in South Korea indicated that the additional measures Lee hinted at could include recalling the country’s ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang, as a form of protest.
Leave a Comment