South Korea Demands Clarification and Apology from Ukraine Over North Korean Soldier Return Agreement

The Blue House has demanded an official clarification and apology from Ukraine after the country publicly disclosed the return of North Korean soldiers to South Korea without prior consultation and denied a confidential agreement between the two nations.
 
Seong Gi-hong, the Blue House's chief of public communication, issued a statement on September 27 expressing "strong regret" over Ukraine's unilateral disclosure, which he said violated their agreement, and the subsequent false announcement denying the existence of a confidential agreement. He added that they are reviewing additional necessary measures regarding the issue.
 
According to Seong, the two countries had been discussing the return of North Korean soldiers through various channels. During these discussions, Ukraine requested confidentiality, citing concerns that the revelation of the return could lead to domestic criticism for abandoning opportunities to exchange their own prisoners. The South Korean side agreed to this request, considering the safety of the prisoners and their families, as well as diplomatic and security issues.
 
However, Seong claimed that the Ukrainian government publicly announced the return of the North Korean soldiers during a presidential speech at the United Nations General Assembly without sufficient prior explanation or specific consultation. Following President Yoon Suk-yeol's expression of disappointment over the disclosure, the Ukrainian presidential office stated without prior notice that "there was no agreement to keep this confidential."
 
Seong criticized Ukraine's announcement as an act that "seriously undermines trust between the two governments and significantly disrupts the friendly relations between the two countries." He also urged domestic critics to refrain from politicizing sensitive diplomatic and security matters, asking them to avoid unverified claims or statements that differ from the facts.