Lee Jae-myung, the President of South Korea, strongly criticized the remarks made by Vladimir Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, regarding the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. This matter, which was agreed upon confidentially, was unilaterally disclosed by Zelensky and has now escalated diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Confidential Agreement and Its Disclosure
Lee Jae-myung stated in a message on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that it had been agreed that the matter of returning North Korean prisoners would remain confidential. He explicitly mentioned that the Ukrainians denied the existence of such an agreement and, instead of accepting the facts, threatened military conflicts between the two Koreas.
The President of South Korea expressed deep regret over Kyiv's actions, noting: "If they continue to refuse to accept the facts and do not officially apologize to Seoul, we will take further actions in this regard." He related this issue to the dignity of South Korea and its people, emphasizing that it cannot be overlooked.
Reactions and Continued Tensions
Following Zelensky's speech at the United Nations General Assembly, tensions significantly increased. In this speech, he announced that two North Korean soldiers who had been captured in Russia had been transferred to South Korea. These remarks were considered a violation of the confidentiality agreement and led to serious disputes between Seoul and Kyiv.
Song Ki-hong, a senior official in the South Korean presidential office, also expressed "deep regret" over Ukraine's decision, stating that Seoul had agreed to Ukraine's request for confidentiality regarding this transfer due to the sensitivity of the issue. He called for an official explanation and apology from Ukraine.
In response, Dmytro Litvin, Zelensky's communications advisor, denied South Korea's accusations and wrote in a Facebook message that "such an agreement did not exist," thus tensions continue.
This diplomatic crisis illustrates how a single remark can have profound effects on relations between countries and impact the security situation in the region. With these tensions ongoing, the future of relations between South Korea and Ukraine remains uncertain, and both countries must find a solution to prevent further escalation of this crisis.
Read more: Kazem Gharibabadi: The U.S. and the Israeli Regime are Symbols of State Violence · North Korea's Foreign Ministry Warns About South Korea's Nuclear Submarine
