According to the ministry, Cho stressed during the meeting previous day that mutual respect and trust are "prerequisites" for developing relations between the two countries, in an apparent reference to the handling of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine.
It was their first face-to-face meeting since diplomatic friction arose after Ukraine disclosed in September that it had transferred the prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea. Seoul accused Kyiv of violating an agreement not to publicly disclose the transfer and called for an apology and measures to prevent a similar incident.
Cho, however, reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to supporting Ukraine, saying Seoul would continue to look for ways to provide humanitarian aid and support the country's reconstruction.
Thanking Seoul for its support, Sybiha called for continued efforts to maintain and develop stable bilateral relations. He also expressed hope for close cooperation with the international community including South Korea to help bring peace to Ukraine.
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