South Korea Threatens Action Over Ukraine Prisoner Disclosure
· World · BBC News, The Korea Times
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has threatened unspecified further action unless Ukraine issues a public apology for disclosing that two North Korean prisoners of war were sent to the South. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the transfer to the UN General Assembly last week, a move Seoul stated was intended to remain confidential to protect the soldiers' families and avoid criticism. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the situation as a diplomatic misunderstanding and said Kyiv was working to resolve it. Lee rejected this characterisation on X, accusing Ukraine of attempting to provoke a conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Lee faced heavy domestic criticism from the South Korean opposition, which accused him of covering up the transfer to appease Pyongyang.
Why it matters
The diplomatic dispute strains bilateral ties between Seoul and Kyiv as South Korea maintains its policy of not providing lethal weapons to active war zones.
Read the original report — BBC News
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