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President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, concluding their state visit to Mexico, wave to well-wishers from Air Force One at Felipe Ángeles International Airport in Mexico City on the 26th (local time). / Yonhap News

Cheong Wa Dae demanded an official explanation and apology on the 27th regarding the Ukrainian government's response surrounding the public disclosure of the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

According to Cheong Wa Dae on the 28th, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication and PR Seong Gi-hong stated in a position statement released the previous day, "We express deep regret over the Ukrainian government's unilateral disclosure in breach of the agreement, followed by false official statements claiming that no non-disclosure agreement existed," adding, "We demand an official explanation and apology."

Cheong Wa Dae explained that the Ukrainian side had requested non-disclosure first during consultations on repatriating the North Korean POWs.

Senior Secretary Seong stated, "The Ukrainian government consulted with our side on the repatriation of POWs multiple times through various channels. During this process, Ukraine requested secrecy, noting that if the transfer to South Korea were made public, domestic public opinion might criticize the government for forfeiting opportunities to exchange them for numerous Ukrainian POWs."

He added, "Our side also agreed to keep the matter confidential in consideration of the personal safety of the POWs and their families, as well as multiple diplomatic and security factors, and proceeded with the repatriation process accordingly."

Cheong Wa Dae pointed out that the Ukrainian side subsequently disclosed the repatriation of the North Korean POWs to South Korea at the UN General Assembly without prior consultation or notification.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in his address to the UN General Assembly on the 23rd (local time) that Ukraine had recently sent two North Korean POWs to South Korea. When President Lee Jae-myung responded by saying, "I do not know what circumstances Ukraine faced in breaching the non-disclosure agreement, but it is deeply regrettable," the Office of the President of Ukraine pushed back, arguing that no confidentiality pact existed.

Cheong Wa Dae defined this as a development that damaged mutual trust between the two governments. Senior Secretary Seong said, "The Ukrainian side's breach of the bilateral non-disclosure agreement through a unilateral disclosure without prior consultation or even notice is a very serious issue," adding, "The press office of Ukraine's presidential office issuing false claims that no confidentiality agreement existed—in response to our president's factual and legitimate public remarks—seriously damages mutual trust between the two governments and significantly impedes friendly bilateral relations."

He also expressed regret over the ongoing domestic political debate surrounding the matter. Seong stated, "Rather than pointing out the fault of the Ukrainian government, some domestic political figures are politicizing a sensitive diplomatic and security matter directly tied to our national interest and siding with Ukraine's unjustified conduct," urging them to "refrain from making unverified false claims or assertions that diverge from the facts."

                                                                                                        Park Young-hoon