SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has rejected speculation over a possible diplomatic rupture with South Korea, saying Kyiv remains committed to normalizing relations with Seoul amid tensions over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war.
"We believe the first step is to prevent any new actions or statements that could lead to escalation," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said at a press briefing on Friday (local time).
Tykhyi said Ukraine was seeking to prevent the dispute from escalating further and that diplomatic communication between the two countries was continuing at various levels.
"Ukraine is fully ready for normalization," he said.
The spokesperson also disputed media reports suggesting that South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun had raised the prospect of severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
Tykhyi explained that Cho's remarks had been taken out of context and that the South Korean minister had merely acknowledged a hypothetical possibility of diplomatic relations deteriorating if tensions continued to escalate.
"I urge you to be cautious and analyze the actual statements people make," Tykhyi said.
He argued that Cho's broader remarks had reaffirmed South Korea's continued support for Ukraine, including humanitarian assistance and participation in international efforts to end Russia's invasion.
The controversy followed Cho's remarks during a National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit on Tuesday.
Asked by Rep. Song Seok-jun of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) whether the dispute with Ukraine had reached a level comparable to a breakdown in diplomatic relations, Cho said such a possibility could arise if tensions continued to escalate.
However, Cho also stressed that South Korea's broader support for Ukraine remained unchanged and that he was maintaining communication with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to resolve the dispute.
The diplomatic confrontation began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23 that two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia had been transferred to South Korea.
Seoul accused Kyiv of violating an agreement to keep the transfer confidential, arguing that secrecy was necessary to protect the soldiers and their families remaining in North Korea.
Ukraine's presidential office denied that such a confidentiality agreement existed, prompting South Korea to demand an official explanation, an apology and assurances against a recurrence.
The dispute subsequently escalated into diplomatic retaliation, with Seoul recalling its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Kichang, in early October.
South Korea also withdrew eight diplomatic personnel from Ukraine, Cho confirmed during the parliamentary audit on Tuesday.
Cho said the withdrawal had been unavoidable because Ukraine had failed to adequately address the dispute. He added that essential embassy personnel remained in Kyiv to protect South Korean nationals and maintain diplomatic operations amid continuing Russian attacks.
Despite the disagreement, Tykhyi said the two governments remained in contact through their foreign ministries and diplomatic missions, with communication also continuing directly between their foreign ministers.
The Ukrainian spokesperson stressed that opportunities for cooperation between the two countries extended far beyond the current dispute and should not be jeopardized by the disagreement.
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