S. Korea maintains demand for Ukraine's apology over N.K. POW disclosure

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SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is continuing efforts to resolve its recent diplomatic dispute with Ukraine while maintaining its demand for an apology from Kyiv over its disclosure of the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

"The government hopes that all pending issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably," ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon told a press briefing. "To that end, we will continue consultations with the Ukrainian side and are currently maintaining communication."

The statement came after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the matter had been "resolved" in an interview with RBC-Ukraine on Monday (local time).

"Everything stemmed from different interpretations of the confidentiality requirements at various stages of the transfer of the prisoners of war. Ukraine fulfilled all its obligations," Sybiha was quoted as saying by RBC-Ukraine.

The report said Seoul was continuing to escalate the situation by recalling its ambassador, despite Kyiv's view that the dispute had been resolved.

Asked whether Seoul's demand for an apology remained in place, a separate foreign ministry official said, "Yes," adding that the two countries were still in talks to find an amicable solution.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (R) and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (2nd from L) hold talks, in this undated file photo provided by Seoul's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The two countries have been embroiled in a diplomatic dispute since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of two North Korean soldiers in an address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month.

The soldiers were captured in January 2025 while fighting for Russia and arrived in South Korea in mid-September.

Seoul has said a nondisclosure agreement was reached with Kyiv at Ukraine's request to protect the soldiers and their families, who remain in North Korea. It has accused Zelenskyy of breaching the agreement, while Kyiv has denied that any such agreement existed.

The South Korean government has demanded an official explanation and apology. In protest, Seoul recalled its ambassador to Ukraine.

While maintaining its demand for an apology, Seoul is seeking a diplomatic resolution to the dispute.

"Both sides are communicating to manage and resolve pending issues, and we are consulting closely with our ambassador, who has been recalled, throughout this process," the spokesperson said. "We hope the Ukrainian side will respond positively to these diplomatic efforts."

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首尔，10月13日（韩联社）——韩国外交部周二表示，韩国将继续努力解决近期与乌克兰的外交争端，同时坚持要求基辅就其向首尔泄露朝鲜战俘信息一事道歉。

外交部发言人朴斗顺在新闻发布会上表示：“政府希望两国之间所有悬而未决的问题都能友好解决。为此，我们将继续与乌克兰方面磋商，并保持沟通。”

此前，乌克兰外交部长安德烈·西比哈周一（当地时间）在接受 RBC-Ukraine 采访时表示，此事已经“解决”。

据 RBC-Ukraine 报道，西比哈表示：“一切都源于对战俘移交过程中各个阶段保密要求的不同解读。乌克兰履行了其所有义务。”

报告称，尽管基辅方面认为争端已经解决，但首尔方面仍召回大使，导致局势持续升级。

当被问及首尔方面是否仍然要求道歉时，另一位外交部官员表示“是的”，并补充说两国仍在进行谈判，以寻求友好解决方案。

韩国外交部长赵显铉（右）与乌克兰外交部长安德烈·西比哈（左二）举行会谈。这张由首尔外交部提供的资料照片未注明拍摄日期。（照片不得出售）（韩联社）

自乌克兰总统泽连斯基上个月在纽约联合国大会上发表讲话，披露两名朝鲜士兵被转移以来，两国一直陷入外交争端。

这些士兵在 2025 年 1 月为俄罗斯作战时被俘，并于 9 月中旬抵达韩国。

首尔方面表示，应乌克兰要求，双方与基辅达成了一项保密协议，以保护仍留在朝鲜的士兵及其家属。首尔指责泽连斯基违反了该协议，而基辅方面则否认存在任何此类协议。

韩国政府已要求乌克兰方面做出正式解释和道歉。作为抗议，首尔召回了驻乌克兰大使。

首尔方面在坚持要求对方道歉的同时，寻求通过外交途径解决争端。

发言人表示：“双方正在沟通，以管控和解决悬而未决的问题。在此过程中，我们与已被召回的大使保持密切磋商。我们希望乌克兰方面对这些外交努力做出积极回应。”

韩国驻乌克兰大使因朝鲜战俘信息披露争议返回韩国

（导语）韩国因朝鲜战俘信息泄露问题与乌克兰发生争端，将召回驻乌克兰大使

乌克兰外交部长称，乌克兰就泄露朝鲜战俘信息一事提供的道歉“不够充分”。

韩国坚持要求乌克兰就泄露朝鲜战俘信息一事道歉。