According to Yonhap, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Sang-hyun stated on the 6th that he has received a message from Ukraine containing an apology regarding the diplomatic friction over the confidentiality agreement surrounding the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war.
Zhao Xian attended the National Security Inquiry Meeting of the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee on that day. When asked about 'whether the Ukrainian side expressed an apology', he made the aforementioned statement.
Zhao Xian said that he has been in regular communication with the Ukrainian foreign minister. The Ukrainian foreign minister felt extremely troubled, and he himself received a message from the Ukrainian side containing an apology. However, Zhao Xian also stated that there is a discrepancy between the extent of the Ukrainian apology and the views of the South Korean side. Therefore, the government will take tough measures, and options such as recalling the South Korean ambassador to Ukraine are being considered.
Regarding President Zelensky's public statement of sending North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea unilaterally, Zhao Xian stated that according to his understanding, Zelensky may intend to demonstrate Ukraine as a free and democratic nation at the United Nations General Assembly.
On September 23, Zelenskyy stated during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York that Ukraine had recently sent two North Korean prisoners to South Korea. In response, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol posted a statement on social media on September 24, stating that Ukraine had violated the confidentiality agreement reached between the two sides, which was regrettable. However, the person in charge of the Ukrainian President's office later denied that there was any agreement on confidentiality between the two sides.
Li Jae-myeong publicly criticized on October 2, saying, 'As the President of the Republic of Korea, I expressed my 'regret' out of courtesy. However, the other party changed their statement, claiming that they did not reach any agreement regarding confidentiality, which led a head of state to be labeled as a 'fraud'.'
Lee Jae-ming stated that the Korean side demanded the Ukrainian side to acknowledge the fact of the agreement between the two parties and apologize. However, the Ukrainian side instead claimed that 'Korean-Chinese military conflicts are imminent', seemingly hoping for a war on the Korean Peninsula. I feel deeply sorry about this. If the Ukrainian side continues to deny the facts and refuse to apologize, the Korean side will take further measures. This matter is related to the dignity of the citizens of the Republic of Korea and the country as a whole, and the Korean side will not tolerate such actions.
