Park pointed out that despite a clear agreement between South Korea and Ukraine not to disclose the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners of war, the Ukrainian side unilaterally and abruptly revealed at the recent U.N. General Assembly that the North Korean POWs were headed to South Korea, without sufficient advance explanation or specific consultation.
The ministry said Park also expressed strong regret that the press office of Ukraine's presidential office subsequently issued a false announcement denying the existence of the confidentiality agreement.
Park stressed that Ukraine's announcement of the false claim that no confidentiality agreement existed seriously undermines trust between the two governments and impedes friendly relations between the two countries.
He went on to demand an official explanation and apology at the level of the Ukrainian government over the unilateral disclosure and the false announcement concerning the repatriation of the North Korean POWs, and urged that such incidents not recur.
According to the ministry, Veshkin said he listened carefully to the South Korean government's position and would report it accurately to his government.
