South Korea Voices Strong Regret Over Ukraine's Denial of Nondisclosure Pact

South Korea's presidential office has officially voiced strong regret concerning Ukraine's denial of a nondisclosure agreement related to the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to South Korea. This statement reflects the growing diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Seong Ghi-hong, a senior presidential secretary, stated that Ukraine's unilateral disclosure of the transfer and its subsequent denial of the confidentiality agreement have severely undermined bilateral trust. The South Korean government had previously agreed to keep the transfer confidential to protect the safety of the POWs and their families.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed during a recent United Nations address that the two North Korean soldiers had been sent to South Korea, which South Korea claims breached the nondisclosure agreement. Following this, Ukrainian media reported a presidential source denying the existence of such an agreement.

Seong emphasized that the Ukrainian government's demand for confidentiality was based on concerns over domestic criticism regarding the potential exchange of North Korean POWs for Ukrainian soldiers. He called Ukraine's actions a serious disruption to the friendship between the two countries and expressed regret over individuals in South Korea politicizing this sensitive issue.