Relations between South Korea and Ukraine, strained by the controversy over the secret agreement regarding the repatriation of North Korean soldiers, saw a dialogue aimed at improving ties. However, the official apology requested by the South Korean government from Ukraine has yet to be issued, becoming a key factor in the restoration of relations.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 11, Foreign Minister Park Jin and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held a bilateral meeting during the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Paris.
This was the first face-to-face meeting since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the repatriation of two North Korean soldiers to South Korea during the United Nations General Assembly in September. The secret agreement regarding the repatriation has led to a conflict between the two nations, with disputes escalating to the level of truth claims between the leaders.
In response, the South Korean government summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea and recalled its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Ki-chang. Additionally, it protested strongly by withdrawing half of the staff from the Ukrainian embassy.
Ukraine has stated that the recall of Ambassador Park has exacerbated tensions between the two countries, while it has not commented significantly on the withdrawal of embassy staff. The Ukrainian side has also indicated that the matter is already resolved.
This meeting was reportedly facilitated by ongoing communication between the two countries. However, the apology that the South Korean government set as a precondition was not mentioned in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press release. The release emphasized that 'mutual respect, trust, and sincere implementation of agreements between nations are fundamental prerequisites for the development of bilateral relations,' expressing hope for the smooth resolution of various issues between the two countries.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) after the meeting, Minister Sybiha also omitted the term 'apology.' He stated, 'I briefed Minister Park on our peace efforts and proposals for de-escalation,' adding, 'I am confident that there are further steps to be taken toward the complete normalization of relations between our countries. This is the goal we are striving to achieve.'
In a conversation with Aju Economy, Doo Jin-ho, a visiting research fellow at Kyungnam University's East Asian Studies Institute, remarked, 'It seems that both sides are at an impasse.' He assessed that under these circumstances, the likelihood of a separate meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and President Zelensky appears low.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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