South Korea summons Ukrainian envoy after POW transfer disclosure

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Andrii Vieshkin, Ukraine’s acting ambassador to the country, following Kyiv’s disclosure that it had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the transfer last week during an address to the United Nations, saying Ukraine had sent the two North Korean soldiers captured last year to South Korea, Calber.Az reports, citing Korean media.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his office subsequently said Ukraine had breached a nondisclosure agreement intended to keep the transfer confidential, citing the need to protect the soldiers from potential risks following the disclosure and to uphold international law and humanitarian principles.

Ukrainian media outlets later reported that a source in the Ukrainian presidential office denied the existence of any confidentiality agreement with Seoul.

The Foreign Ministry’s decision to summon the Ukrainian envoy came a day after Cheong Wa Dae expressed “strong regret” over Kyiv’s disclosure.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov