Photo : YONHAP News
South Korea has summoned the top Ukrainian diplomat in Seoul and conveyed the government’s stern stance regarding Kyiv’s handling of the handover of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo on Monday called in Andrii Vieshkin, chargé d’affaires ad interim at the Ukrainian Embassy, and said Ukraine had unilaterally disclosed the transfer publicly at this year’s UN General Assembly despite a nondisclosure agreement between Seoul and Kyiv.
Park also expressed deep regret over a Ukrainian presidential aide later denying that Seoul and Kyiv had agreed to keep the matter confidential.
The vice foreign minister said that denial seriously harms trust between the governments of the two countries and negatively affects bilateral friendly ties.
Park then called on the Ukrainian government to offer an official apology and explanation and take steps to prevent any recurrence.
According to the ministry, Vieshkin listened carefully and promised to accurately report Seoul’s stance to his country.