Government Takes Hard-Line Response Amid Public Dispute Over Repatriation of North Korean POWs

On the 28th, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo summoned Ukrainian Chargé d'Affaires Andrii Beshtsekin to the Foreign Ministry in the form of a formal protest to convey the government's stern position on Ukraine's publicizing of the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war.

Prior to this, President Lee Jae-myung posted on the social media platform X on the 24th that it was 'deeply regrettable' that Ukraine had violated a confidential agreement by making the repatriation process public. Subsequently, on the 27th, Sung Ki-hong, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication, stated in an official statement that the Ukrainian side had not only unilaterally broken the agreement but had also made statements contradicting the fact, demanding an official explanation and an apology.

As of the 28th (local time), the Ukrainian side had not issued an official position on the presidential office's demands for an explanation and apology. Dmytro Lytvyn, communications advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office, denied the existence of a confidential agreement on social media, saying that 'hiding where a specific prisoner of war goes is the wrong thing to do.'

While the government has taken a hard-line response, including the formal protest and objections through diplomatic channels, it has maintained its position of not linking this issue to other matters such as humanitarian aid to Ukraine. A Foreign Ministry official said, "It is the government's consistent position that humanitarian support and reconstruction for Ukraine remain a separate pillar of cooperation." Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has also stated in talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha that South Korea would continue providing the support the Ukrainian people need.