South Korea’s presidential office on Monday criticised Ukraine for refusing to sign a nondisclosure agreement that would facilitate the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war, a dispute that has strained diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The South Korean government said it had approached Kyiv with a proposal to allow the repatriation of North Korean soldiers captured while fighting alongside Russian forces, and that a confidentiality pact was a prerequisite for the arrangement.
Ukrainian officials, however, denied the existence of such an agreement and rejected the request, according to statements from the South Korean presidential office.
In response, the presidential office warned that Ukraine’s refusal undermines mutual trust and could jeopardise ongoing cooperation in areas such as security, trade and humanitarian assistance.
South Korea and Ukraine have maintained a partnership since the outbreak of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with both nations supporting each other on international platforms. The current disagreement over the handling of North Korean POWs adds a new diplomatic challenge to an otherwise collaborative relationship.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
