Cho Hyun, the Foreign Minister, stated on October 6 that "the external security regarding the repatriation of North Korean POWs was initially requested by Ukraine."
During a National Assembly audit session, Cho explained, "Ukraine considered the implications of prisoner exchanges with Russia and the treatment of POWs from third countries."
He added, "We also reached a private agreement, taking into account the safety of the individuals involved and their families, as well as diplomatic and security aspects."
Cho emphasized, "North Korean POWs are constitutionally our citizens, and if they wish to come to South Korea, we will accept all of them. We maintain a fundamental stance that we cannot accept forced repatriation to North Korea against their will."
Additionally, he noted, "The Ukrainian side issued a false statement claiming that the repatriation of POWs was made public unilaterally and that there was no agreement. I believe it is essential to clarify the facts and formally request an apology, as this is crucial for the development of relations between South Korea and Ukraine. We will consistently pursue a principled response."
Meanwhile, a dispute over the public announcement of the repatriation of North Korean POWs has emerged between President Lee Jae-myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky stated during his speech at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 23, "Recently, we sent two North Korean POWs to South Korea."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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