South Korea's Lee threatens action against Ukraine over transfer of North Korean soldiers
Lee said Seoul may take additional measures unless Kyiv acknowledges the disclosure and apologizes, escalating a dispute over two captured North Korean soldiers.
- On Friday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung threatened "further action" against Ukraine unless Kyiv acknowledges a confidentiality agreement covering two North Korean prisoners of war and issues a public apology.
- Diplomatic tensions escalated after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the transfer at the United Nations General Assembly last month, with Seoul claiming the move violated a confidentiality agreement meant to protect the soldiers.
- Lee accused Kyiv of "attempting to provoke a war on the Korean Peninsula," while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the situation as a "diplomatic misunderstanding" and said Kyiv is "working" to resolve it.
- Rejecting the "misunderstanding" characterization as an affront to "the dignity of the Korean people and the nation," Lee reiterated his demand, warning that continued refusal will trigger "additional measures."
- Cho Han-bum of the Korea Institute for National Unification noted that Ukraine has more to lose in prolonged confrontation, as Seoul provides $100 million in non-lethal support and relies on Kyiv for North Korean military intelligence.
145 Articles
145 Articles
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is threatening "measures" because President Zelensky announced that Ukraine has handed over two North Korean troops to Seoul. Why is the dispute between the two allies escalating so rapidly over this?
President Lee Jae Myung demands an apology from the Ukrainian leader after declassifying in the UN rostrum the covert reception of two North Korean prisoners of war captured on the Russian front
Ukraine has handed over two North Korean soldiers who fought for Russia to South Korea. The surrender was apparently to remain secret. Because President Selenskyi made them public, Seoul demands an apology and threatens to take further steps.
Lee warns Ukraine over North Korean POW disclosure, seeks public apology
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded a public apology from Ukraine over the disclosure of two North Korean POWs sent to Seoul. The clash has strained Seoul-Kyiv ties at a delicate moment in South Korea's outreach to Pyongyang.
South Korea demands an apology from Ukraine for making public the extradition of two prisoners of war from North Korea. If Kyiv refuses to tell the truth about this, Seoul will take "further measures," President Lee Jae Myung said. President Volodymyr Zelensky denies that there was any secrecy.
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