South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated today: "Regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners, Ukraine had previously requested that the matter be handled confidentially, and both sides had reached a mutual agreement on confidentiality. However, Ukraine later unilaterally disclosed the information to the public. The Republic of Korea has shown due restraint, expressing only regret—yet Ukraine now claims 'no such agreement existed,' effectively portraying our head of state as a liar. When Seoul demanded acknowledgment of the agreement and a formal apology, Ukraine instead amplified rhetoric about an imminent military confrontation on the Korean Peninsula. To a country that stirs up war threats on the peninsula, we express profound disappointment. Should Ukraine continue to refuse to acknowledge facts or issue a sincere apology, further measures will be taken. This matter concerns the dignity of the South Korean people and nation, and cannot be tolerated."
Commentary: Ukraine’s actions appear aimed at securing concrete evidence at the United Nations stage to substantiate claims that North Korea is sending troops to support Russia, thereby recasting the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a multi-state confrontation in order to gain greater military and diplomatic backing from the West. It also seeks to draw South Korea into its orbit, undermining Seoul’s longstanding posture of providing only economic aid while avoiding arms deliveries, thus pressuring South Korea to shift its position closer to Ukraine’s. By denying the prior confidentiality arrangement and inflating fears of an imminent Korean Peninsula crisis, Ukraine reinforces this narrative. South Korea’s strong reaction stems from Kyiv’s unilateral disclosure and subsequent denial of the agreement—seen by Seoul as an implicit challenge to the credibility of its president and a serious blow to national diplomatic standing—while also exposing Seoul to potential security risks stemming from possible provocation of North Korea.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877914870726665/
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