Three European countries offer role in South Korea-Ukraine dispute
In short
Three European countries have offered to help improve strained South Korea-Ukraine relations, South Korea's foreign ministry said on October 15. Seoul said its support for Ukraine would continue despite a dispute over disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners to South Korea.
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Three European countries have told South Korea they are willing to play a role in improving its strained relationship with Ukraine, South Korea's foreign ministry said on October 15. A ministry official told reporters in Seoul that the countries had expressed interest in the situation and offered to help bring about a change. They also conveyed hopes that South Korea's support for Ukraine would continue. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The ministry did not identify the three countries. Their messages were conveyed separately through high-level contacts rather than as a joint approach, Yonhap and other outlets reported. South Korea said it would maintain its position on support for Ukraine as a responsible member of the international community. Officials said humanitarian support would be handled separately from the bilateral dispute, which Seoul would continue discussing directly with Ukraine. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The disagreement arose after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23 that two North Korean prisoners had been transferred to South Korea. South Korea says the countries had agreed to keep the transfer confidential and demanded an apology for the disclosure. Ukraine disputed that there had been such a confidentiality agreement, according to Seoul Economic Daily and Chosun Ilbo. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
South Korea decided on October 8 to recall its ambassador to Ukraine in protest. Seoul Economic Daily reported that the ambassador returned on October 10 and briefed the foreign minister on October 12. A ministry official said European expressions of interest did not amount to expressions of concern, presenting them instead as evidence of the importance those countries attached to cooperation with South Korea. Newsis reported that the details of any European role could take shape during consultations. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The European countries also expressed hope that South Korea would continue supporting Ukraine. Seoul said it would maintain that support while addressing the prisoner-disclosure dispute through bilateral talks.
Key facts
- The European countries conveyed their positions separately through high-level contacts. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- The foreign ministry did not identify the three countries. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- South Korea said the dispute would not change its humanitarian-support policy for Ukraine. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The dispute followed Ukraine's disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners to South Korea. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The identities of the three European countries were not disclosed. The foreign ministry did not name them.
- Whether the prisoner transfer was subject to a confidentiality agreement is disputed. Seoul says an agreement was breached; Ukraine disputes that such an agreement existed, according to Seoul Economic Daily and Chosun Ilbo.